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Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic Prediction, Preview, and Odds – 1-7-2024

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Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic Prediction, Preview, and Odds – 1-7-2024


The Atlanta Hawks travel to Orlando on Sunday to take on the Magic in an Eastern Conference showdown. Both teams have struggled a bit as of late with each going 4-6 in their last ten games. The Hawks are just 14-20 on the season while the surprising Magic are 20-15 on the season. The opening tap is scheduled for 6:00 PM EST.

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Hawks Having Trouble Taking Off

The Atlanta Hawks have struggled to a 14-20 mark up to this point, including six losses in their last ten games. Rumors are swirling that the team will be active at the trade deadline and they may be in for a major overhaul going forward. On Friday night, the Hawks were ambushed by the high-scoring Pacers on their way to a 150-116 blowout loss. The Hawks’ defense allowed the Pacers to shoot 64% from the field including 71% in the first half. Dejounte Murray led Atlanta with 30 points while his All-Star backcourt mate, Trae Young, was held to just 13 points on 4-of-18 shooting.

“Sometimes there are games where you didn’t play well and we didn’t,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “I don’t know we did anything at the level we need to win against these guys on the road. They’re obviously playing well and made it hard on us. We didn’t have it tonight.”

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The Hawks come into Sunday’s action with the third-highest scoring offense in the NBA. The Hawks are 18th in field goal percentage thus far and 18th in 3-point shooting. They do rely heavily on the three-ball, ranked 7th in the NBA in 3-point field goals per game. On the defensive end, Atlanta is 28th in the NBA in points allowed per game. The Hawks are 30th in opponent’s shooting percentage and just 27th in 3-point defense. On the glass, Atlanta ranks 17th in the NBA in total rebounds per game. Despite the team’s stellar backcourt of Murray and Young, the Hawks are 17th in turnovers per game.

Key Injuries: SF De’Andre Hunter (knee) is out.

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Magic Gone?

The Orlando Magic have been one of the surprise teams in the NBA thus far and still are very much in the playoff picture with a record of 20-15 as the NBA season nears the halfway point. They have struggled lately, however, and won just four of their last ten games. In their last game, the young Magic team picked up one of their signature wins of the season in a 122-120 win in Denver against the defending NBA Champion Nuggets. Paolo Banchero led the way with a pair of free throws to give the Magic the lead with under ten seconds to go. Banchero ended with his first career triple-double finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists as the Magic rallied back from a deficit as much as 18 points in the game.

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“Just the power of just positive energy and just pushing each other,” said Banchero, who was 15 of 19 from the free throw line. “We just told each other, ‘We’re all we got. We’re going to live with the result, whatever it is, but we’re not just going to roll over and let these guys blow us out.’”

Orlando comes into this game ranked 20th in the NBA in scoring offense. The Magic are 16th in field goal percentage and just 27th in 3-point shooting. They aren’t nearly as reliant on the 3-point shot as the Hawks, ranked 28th in the NBA in 3-point field goals per game. Defensively, the Magic are 11th in defensive scoring. They are 17th in opponent’s shooting percentage and 11th in 3-point defense. The Magic are one of the better rebounding teams in the league, ranked 8th in total rebounds per game. The young team, not surprisingly, struggles to protect the basketball and ranks 25th in turnovers per game.

Key Injuries: PF Jonathan Isaac (hamstring), SG Joe Ingles (ankle), PG Markelle Fultz (knee),  SG Gary Harris (calf), SF Franz Wagner (ankle) are all out. C Wendell Carter Jr. (knee) is questionable.

 

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One of the things that has made the Magic so difficult to play this season has been the team’s depth. On Sunday, however, the Magic will be down several key players including Franz Wagner, and that depth will be challenged. The Hawks come into this game following a humiliating loss to an Indiana team that plays a completely different style of basketball than the Magic. The Pacers play fast and shoot the 3-ball often. The Magic play at a middle-of-the-road pace and don’t rely on the 3-point field goal nearly as much. In addition, without the bench strength, particularly at guard, on Sunday, the Magic will have problems containing Murray and Young.

Take the Hawks -1.

Prediction: Atlanta -1

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The Hawks will be able to play this game at their pace on Sunday with the Magic down several key players including three key frontcourt players that would otherwise help control the glass for Orlando. I expect the Hawks to be able to play at their pace, the fifth-fastest in the NBA, and get more than one chance at the rim on each possession against a depleted Magic team. Look for this game to be played fast and in the 120s.

Take the over.

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Prediction: Over 239.5

Written By
Mark Ruelle , “Mark Ruelle”

Mark has been a sports fanatic since childhood. He is also an avid follower of sports analytics and has used it in his own betting analysis for over two decades. Now we have Mark on our team here at Stat Salt. He holds degrees in marketing, broadcasting, and English and uses this vast array of assets to dissect and analyze game matchups. Mark will provide you with a wide variety of statistics to consider and a strong opinion in each matchup that he covers. Please follow him daily for an up-to-the-minute analysis of all the important games.

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Atlanta, GA

Falcons sign Drake London to four-year extension

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Falcons sign Drake London to four-year extension


One of the most inevitable moves of the summer is complete. The Atlanta Falcons have given Drake London a lucrative four year deal worth up to $150 million, locking up their top receiver for the foreseeable future.

It’s a deserved extension for a physical, sure-handed talent who has been consistently excellent in Atlanta despite a constantly rotating cast of quarterbacks. London, who has averaged 1,086 yards over four NFL seasons and has 22 touchdowns over that span, has also emerged as one of the locker room’s most vocal and accountable players.

The 2022 first round pick came into the NFL catching passes from Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder and flourished immediately, with 806 yards and four touchdowns in year one and 905 yards and two touchdowns in year two. When the coaching staff turned over and Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. entered the picture, London exploded for 100 catches, 1,271 yards, and nine touchdowns in 2024, following that up with 919 yards and seven touchdowns in just 12 games a year ago. Through just four seasons, London is already 10th in team history in receiving yards, eighth in receptions, and 13th in touchdowns, and mixes that with solid blocking. He’s been the ideal receiver for the last two iterations of this Falcons offense, and I have no doubt that will continue here.

The contract’s guaranteed money would be tops in the NFL if the $100 million figure is accurate, but by overall money it’s just the third most lucrative contract in the league, and will likely be hovering near the bottom of the top ten in a couple of seasons. The Falcons were never going to risk losing their top receiving option, and if all goes well, London will continue to thrive in Atlanta and set his sights on surpassing some franchise legends in the years to come. I’m glad the deal is done, and we’ll see the exact terms soon enough.

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Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Braves News: Mauricio Dubon, Hurston Waldrep, Week Ahead, More

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Atlanta Braves News: Mauricio Dubon, Hurston Waldrep, Week Ahead, More


Many good things have contributed to the amazing start to the season for the Braves. One of the biggest factors is how well many of the depth position player signings and acquisitions have worked out for Atlanta, such as Dominic Smith and Jorge Mateo. But the best of all was the trade for Mauricio Dubon, whose versatility has been extremely valuable for the Braves. Alex Anthopoulos has always made good moves on the margins, and this year is no different.

Andrelton Simmons plies his trade in Mexico

The Athletic caught up with former Braves shortstop – and one of the most gifted defenders at the position in the history of the game – Andrelton Simmons who, at 36, returned to organized baseball in Mexico last season.

Link below.

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In a fun “Where are they now” segment, here is an update on Andrelton Simmons.

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Atlanta, GA

Woman fatally stabbed on MARTA train near Oakland City Station; riders question transit safety as World Cup nears

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Woman fatally stabbed on MARTA train near Oakland City Station; riders question transit safety as World Cup nears


 A man accused of fatally stabbing a woman aboard a MARTA train is now in custody, as the violent attack raises new concerns about safety across Atlanta’s transit system.

According to police, 52-year-old Margaret Swan was riding a MARTA train near the Oakland City Station on May 30 when she was stabbed to death.

Investigators say officers quickly arrested the suspect, identified as John Elijah Matthews, at the station shortly after the attack.

Swan’s ex-husband, Jerry Swan, said he was devastated when his daughter called to tell him what happened.

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“I was happy they caught him, but in my mind the thought was why did he do that to such a nice person,” he said.

Jerry Swan described Margaret as a devoted grandmother who loved spending time with her family.

“She was on her way to keep one of her grandbabies when it happened,” he said.

Marta.

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The deadly stabbing has also left some MARTA riders uneasy about safety on the transit system.

Nahsar Alexander, who says he rides MARTA every day, told CBS News Atlanta the attack is alarming.

“That was an innocent lady,” Alexander said. “If she didn’t do anything, what’s stopping someone from hurting me?”

MARTA officials say nearly 300 officers are assigned throughout the transit system to help keep riders safe. Additional officers were visible Monday at stations, including patrols on motorcycles.

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The agency says security measures are also expected to increase ahead of the FIFA World Cup, when Atlanta is expected to see a major influx of visitors.

MARTA says its current security resources include more than 12,000 cameras across rail stations, buses and railcars, along with a Real Time Crime Center monitored during operating hours. Officials also say undercover officers regularly patrol stations, buses and trains.

Ahead of the World Cup, MARTA plans to activate its Emergency Operations Center during matches and fan events, deploy its Mobile Command Vehicle at key locations and partner with outsidxe law enforcement agencies for additional support.

Officials say additional train patrols and crowd control teams will also be used throughout the system.

Some riders say the increased police presence is reassuring, but concerns remain.

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“Yes, but even with more police officers crime is still going to happen,” Alexander said.

Matthews is facing a murder charge.

MARTA says all staff not directly involved in operations or policing will also serve as Transit Ambassadors during the World Cup to assist riders and monitor activity across the system.



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