NBA: Magic top Hawks, stretch lead in standings

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, right, falls to the floor after he was tripped up by Atlanta Hawks guard Caris LeVert (3) as guard Caleb Houstan (2) looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Paolo Banchero recorded his third straight double-double with 33 points and 10 rebounds as the Orlando Magic beat the visiting Atlanta Hawks 119-112 in the NBA on Tuesday for their third straight win.

Orlando (39-40) moved two games ahead of Atlanta for the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference with three games to play for both teams while the Hawks (37-42) lost for the sixth time in their last eight games. The teams meet one last time in the regular-season finale.

READ: NBA: Paolo Banchero’s big performance sends Magic past Wizards

Franz Wagner scored 22 points and Wendell Carter Jr. added 17 points, nine rebounds and a career-high six steals for Orlando, which leads the season series 2-1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope finished with 15 points.

Onyeka Okongwu matched his career high with 30 points and had 14 rebounds for Atlanta. Trae Young added 28 points and 10 assists, Dyson Daniels scored 15, and Caris LeVert added 13 off the bench.

Banchero has scored at least 20 points in 20 straight games for Orlando, which shot 50 percent from the field and 41.2 percent (14 of 34) from 3-point range.

The Magic trailed 31-30 at the end of the opening period before taking a 52-50 lead on Banchero’s trey with 6:10 left in the second quarter.

READ: NBA: Magic build a 30-point halftime lead in rout of Pelicans

Banchero had 21 points in the first half for the Magic, which held a 66-57 advantage at intermission after closing on a 10-2 run. Young had 16 to lead the Hawks.

The Magic shot 53.5 percent from the field in the first half and carried the momentum into the third quarter. Wagner’s jumper put Orlando ahead 89-75 with 2:11 left in the period.

Atlanta cut the deficit to 92-84 at the end of the third quarter after closing on a 9-3 run.

The Hawks remained within striking distance and trailed by eight before Okongwu was assessed a technical foul following a non-call at the basket with 4:32 left in regulation.

Caldwell-Pope made the technical free throw and Banchero hit a jumper on the next possession to give the Magic an 11-point lead.

Orlando moved ahead 115-101 on Cory Joseph’s 3-pointer with 2:06 left and secured its seventh win in its last nine games. –Field Level Media