# Hawks vs Magic: First Night Test

> Atlanta Hawks aim to extend their win streak against Orlando Magic with key matchups and injuries.
- Title: Hawks vs Magic: First Night Test · Atlanta Hawks On SI
- Summary: Atlanta Hawks aim to extend their win streak against Orlando Magic with key matchups and injuries. Atlanta Hawks seek to extend their five-game win streak…
- Keywords: atlanta hawks, orlando magic, jalen johnson, paolo banchero, franz wagner, cjen mccollum, nickeil alexander-walker, kingston flemings, aaron wiggins, on yeka okongwu, wendell carter jr, desmond bane
- Source: Atlanta Hawks On SI — https://si.com/nba/hawks/onsi/hawks-vs-magic-preview-how-to-watch-injury-report-and-projected-starters-for-tonight-s-game-01m5eb67fd8c
- Published: 2026-10-21T13:33:12+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: atlanta hawks, orlando magic, jalen johnson, paolo banchero, franz wagner, cjen mccollum, nickeil alexander-walker, kingston flemings, aaron wiggins, on yeka okongwu, wendell carter jr, desmond bane
## Hawks Back After Sweep
Atlanta Hawks return after sweeping all four games last season to extend their win streak to five tonight.
## Orlando's Offensive Threat
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are both formidable scorers when on, with Wagner being more versatile and central to Orlando's offense.
## Hawks' Offseason Additions
Atlanta added Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Kingston Flemings to deepen their roster for tonight's game.
## Key Players for Hawks
CJ McCollum and Jock Landale are expected to carve out indispensable roles as the third starting guard and backup center.
## Physical Game Expected
The game will be extremely physical and defensively-oriented, with the final outcome depending on last few shots.
## Banchero's Contract Year
Paolo Banchero's rookie max contract kicks in this season after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
## Banchero's Stats
Banchero shot 30.5% from deep on 3.8 attempts per game last season with a career-high 56.6% shooting and 8.4 rebounds.
## Banchero's Defense
Orlando's defense improved slightly without Banchero, but he's been a great defender on Jalen Johnson.
## Johnson's Challenge
Banchero held Johnson to 11.6 points, 2.8 assists, and 3.6 turnovers per 75 minutes over three seasons.
## Orlando's Perimeter Defense
Orlando was 4th in three-point attempts conceded and 3rd in three-point makes conceded per game last season.
## Atlanta's Bench Impact
Kingston Flemings and Aaron Wiggins could provide quality looks off the bench with Flemings' processing speed and Wiggins' preseason potential.
## Hawks' Fast Pace
Atlanta averaged the third-most points on fast-break opportunities and points off turnovers last season.
## Orlando's Turnover Defense
Orlando conceded the eighth-highest amount of points on the fast break but gave up the eighth-fewest points off turnovers.
## Injury Report
Mo Gueye (left foot) and Henri Veesaar (right ACL) are out for tonight, with Anthony Black and Noah Penda also injured.
## Projected Starters
Atlanta's starters include CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu.
## Key takeaway

Atlanta Hawks seek to extend their five-game win streak against Orlando Magic despite injuries and defensive challenges.