The NBA Play-In matchups begin on Tuesday, April 15, with the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic kicking things off.
The winner of this game will become the No. 7 and face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
This matchup comes after these teams just played each other on Sunday to close out the regular season. The Hawks won that game 117-105.
Heading into this one, the Hawks are 5-5 in their last 10 games and winners of three straight.
As for the Magic, they’re 7-3 over their last 10 matchups.
The injury report on both sides is quite lengthy.
Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Cory Joseph are questionable for the Magic.
Onyeka Okongwu, Caris LeVert, and Trae Young are questionable for the Hawks.
Beyond that, the Magic have two players ruled out, and the Hawks are at four.
Below, you’ll find my NBA Same Game Parlay picks today for this game with odds of +210.
This was a complicated Same Game Parlay to build with all the injuries. However, with the Play-In game and the No. 7 seed on the line, I’m expecting that many of the players deemed questionable give it a go.
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NBA Same Game Parlay Prediction: Hawks vs Magic
DraftKings NBA SGP Picks Today: +210
- Hawks +5
- Trae Young 20+ Points
- Paolo Banchero 25+ Points
- Wendell Carter Jr. 7+ Rebounds
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Hawks +5
Leading off my NBA parlay predictions is the Hawks +5. The team is coming off a 12-point win over the Magic on Sunday, and even if both teams are at full strength, I think the Hawks can keep this one close enough.
Over their last three games, the Hawks are averaging 124.7 points per game (4th), shooting 52.6% from the floor (second) and 40.7% from 3-point range.
This will be a classic game of offense versus defense.
The Magic have allowed 102.7 points per game (28th) over their last three games.
Additionally, they’re allowing a shooting percentage of 45.9% from the floor (18th) and 33.0% from 3-point range (24th).
Throughout the season, the Magic have been perhaps the best defensive team in the NBA, holding teams to just 105.5 per outing, which is the least in the league.
They also average just 99.7 possessions per game, which is tied for the fewest in the league.
So, the Magic are slower-paced and hold opposing offenses down.
That said, it comes with a lack of firepower from their offense—something that isn’t a problem for the Hawks.
This will be a great game. One team is strong on defense, while the other, with Trae Young's assistance, tends to put some points on the scoreboard.
Young is dealing with an Achilles issue, so that’s something to monitor.
Without him at full strength and to help dictate the tempo, the Hawks are in trouble.
I’ll take the Hawks +5, but keeping a close eye on the status of Young.
If he’s in and ready to go, the Hawks can keep it close enough to cover but lose outright.
The Hawks are 18-12 as road underdogs this season.
Trae Young 20+ Points
The next leg for my NBA Same Game Parlay today is for Young to score 20 points or more.
This is a small bar for Young to cross.
Young has scored 20 points or more in four of his last five games.
He last played on April 11 against Philadelphia, putting up 36 points.
He sat on Sunday against Orlando to help recover from the Achilles issue.
This season, Young is averaging 24.2 points per game.
Throughout this season, Young has had 20 points or more in 51 of 76 games (67.1% of games).
Due to the Achilles, I wanted to set Young's bar a bit low.
The Magic have a tough defense, but Young will be a major factor in the Hawks' covering the +5.
He’s a 34% 3-point shooter, tossing up 8.4 attempts per game.
Paolo Banchero 25+ Points
The Magic offense has been lackluster as a whole this season, but Banchero doesn’t fall into that category.
The former Duke star has played 46 games this season, averaging 25.9 points per game.
He last played on April 9 against Boston and put up 15 points.
Over his last five games, he’s had 25 or more in three of them.
The other game he fell short in was on April 1 against the San Antonio Spurs, in which he scored 24 points.
Over 46 games this season, he’s had 25 or more in 23 of them (50%).
I fully expect Banchero to be active and play a full slate. He averages 34.4 minutes per game.
The Magic’s offense runs through Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Banchero will put up points, shooting 45.2% from the floor.
Wendell Carter Jr. 7+ Rebounds
Finally, I’m taking Carter Jr. to have seven rebounds or more in the last leg of this Same Game Parlay.
This one is a bit shaky, as Carter Jr. averages 7.2 rebounds per game.
However, Carter Jr. has had seven or more in just two of his last five games.
The Hawks have allowed 12.0 offensive rebounds (tied for ninth) over their last three games.
This is important as Carter Jr. averages 2.2 offensive rebounds per game, which is tied for 26th in the NBA.
The Hawks allow just 50.7 rebounds per game (24th) to opponents.
Carter Jr. has had seven rebounds or more this season in 36 of 68 games (53%).
Over his last 10 games, he’s had seven or more in four.
On Sunday against Atlanta, he had just three rebounds, but he only played 17 minutes and 24 seconds.
Where I think Carter Jr. could excel, though, is that the Hawks are without Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela, and potentially Okongwu.
These three players all average 8.5 rebounds per game or more. After them, the next closest is Dyson Daniels at 5.9.
Even if Okongwu suits up, two of the would-be top competitors for boards are out.
I’ll take a chance on Carter Jr. in a game of this magnitude.
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