Can Orlando Magic Conjure a Win at State Farm Arena?
As the Orlando Magic prepare to face the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena, fans are eager to see if their team can continue their recent form. The Magic have shown resilience in their past games, maintaining a winning record of 22 wins to 18 losses. Despite falling short against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a score of 100-112, they bounced back with a narrow victory over the New York Knicks, edging them out 98-94.
The Magic's performance on the court has been characterized by strong bench contributions and an ability to capitalize on turnovers. In their triumph against the Knicks, bench players poured in 49 points and they scored 12 points off turnovers. Their shooting from inside the paint was particularly effective; they made 58 percent of their attempts.
However, there are areas that need improvement. The three-point shooting was lackluster at just 28 percent against the Knicks and only slightly better at around 30 percent in previous games against both Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder. Ball security has also been an issue as evidenced by their last three outings where they averaged over double-digit turnovers.
Defensively, Orlando has been solid with an average defensive rating around or below what is considered league-average efficiency per possession across these games. They will need this defensive tenacity going up against an Atlanta team that boasts its own set of dynamic scorers.
State Farm Arena is known for its energetic atmosphere which could play into Atlanta's hands; however, Orlando's recent road performances suggest they can handle hostile environments well enough to compete fiercely.
Magic fans should look forward to seeing if their team can maintain composure under pressure and execute effectively on both ends of the floor when they take on Atlanta Hawks on January 18th at State Farm Arena. The game is scheduled for tip-off at half-past midnight UTC and will be broadcasted locally on BSFL channel number 654 for those who wish to follow along live from home or elsewhere.