ATLANTA (Interstat) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored a career-high 41 points and the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 124-112 on Monday night at State Farm Arena, extending their winning streak to 10 games. The Hawks snapped Orlando’s seven-game win streak behind Alexander-Walker’s efficient performance and a triple-double from Jalen Johnson, who had 24 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists. The Hawks surged ahead with 67 first-half points and maintained control despite a 33-point third quarter from the Magic. Atlanta improved to 38-31, reclaiming eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Orlando, led by Paolo Banchero’s 18 points and 10 rebounds, fell to 38-29. A crowd of 18,138 attended.

ATLANTA (Interstat) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker erupted for a career-high 41 points and Jalen Johnson recorded his second consecutive triple-double as the surging Atlanta Hawks extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 124-112 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night at State Farm Arena. A crowd of 18,138 watched the Hawks (37-31) reclaim eighth place in the Eastern Conference by snapping Orlando’s seven-game winning streak. The Magic fell to 38-29. The most important part of the game was Atlanta’s blistering offensive start, which built a cushion Orlando could never overcome. The Hawks scored 34 points in the first quarter and 33 in the second, taking a 67-50 lead into halftime. They shot with efficiency and moved the ball relentlessly, exploiting Orlando’s defense to build a lead that reached 20 points in the third quarter. The Magic, despite a valiant effort to push the pace and cut the deficit to single digits at times in the second half, were consistently forced to play from behind against an Atlanta team that answered every run. Alexander-Walker was the catalyst, hitting 7 of 13 attempts from 3-point range and adding seven rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes. His performance continued a torrid stretch, marking his fifth straight game with at least 20 points. Johnson was the engine of the Hawks’ attack, posting 24 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists for his 13th triple-double of the season. His playmaking was pivotal, as he consistently found open teammates against Orlando’s scrambling defense. Dyson Daniels provided significant support with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Onyeka Okongwu contributed 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists. The Magic were led by Paolo Banchero’s 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, though he struggled with his shooting touch. Wendell Carter, returning to his hometown, scored 17 points, and Desmond Bane added 18 points and four assists. Orlando’s bench provided a spark, with Jevon Carter scoring 13 points, but the team could not match Atlanta’s sustained firepower. After Atlanta’s dominant first half, Orlando showed life in the third quarter, scoring 33 points. A 3-pointer by Moritz Wagner late in the period cut the Hawks’ lead to 104-99 heading into the fourth. However, the Hawks opened the final quarter with an 8-2 spurt, keyed by a Jonathan Kuminga tip-in and a 3-pointer from Alexander-Walker, to re-establish a double-digit advantage and effectively seal the game. Atlanta’s ball movement was exceptional, resulting in 35 assists on 46 made field goals. They also controlled the glass, outrebounding Orlando 56-45. The Magic, who entered the game as one of the league’s hotter teams, shot just under 46 percent from the field and were hampered by 15 turnovers. The Hawks’ 10-game winning streak is the longest current run in the NBA and marks a dramatic turnaround for a team that now finds itself in the heart of the Eastern Conference playoff race. For Orlando, the loss halted momentum but kept them firmly in the conference’s upper tier. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Orlando on April 1. The Hawks will continue their homestand Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks, while the Magic return home to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

ATLANTA (Interstat) — Two of the Eastern Conference’s hottest teams will collide Monday night when the Orlando Magic visit the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in a pivotal late-season matchup. The Magic (37-28) enter on a five-game winning streak, having won nine of their last 11. Their recent surge includes a 136-131 victory over Washington on Thursday, led by 26 points from forward Tristan da Silva. Orlando sits fifth in the conference standings, just one game ahead of the sixth-place Hawks (36-31), who have won seven consecutive games. Atlanta’s streak is highlighted by dominant performances from forward Jalen Johnson, who recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in a 122-99 rout of Milwaukee on Saturday. Over his last nine full games, Johnson is averaging 22.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.2 assists, serving as the engine for the league’s highest-scoring offense. Da Silva has been a key contributor for Orlando during its run, averaging 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists over his last 10 contests. His versatility will be tested against Johnson in a critical forward matchup. The Hawks have owned the season series thus far, winning both prior meetings. They took the first game 111-107 in Orlando on Oct. 24, followed by a 127-112 home victory on Nov. 4. Containing Atlanta’s pace and scoring will be paramount for a Magic defense that ranks among the league’s best in efficiency. With both teams jockeying for playoff positioning and separated by a single game in the loss column, Monday’s contest carries significant weight. The outcome could prove crucial in determining which team secures a more favorable postseason path. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT.