NBA Matchups: March 16

ORL @ ATL | GSW @ WAS | POR @ BKN | PHX @ BOS | MEM @ CHI | DAL @ NOP | LAL @ HOU | SAS @ LAC

Orlando Magic (front end) at Atlanta Hawks

Team Totals: Magic 113.3, Hawks 115.8

Injury Report: Jett Howard (Q, illness), Jonathan Kuminga (Q, knee)

Magic projected starters: Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Tristan da Silva, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

Hawks projected starters: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, C.J. McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu

Mosley quotes: Said they didn’t execute well down the stretch and they just played hard, said Cain was ready to go when Jett had a late scratch, said Wendell did a great job on guarding Bam, said they have to use their size to their advantage.

Snyder quotes: Said NAW was great with their POA defense, said they were better with their execution in the second half, said McCollum has been a great leader for them and he’s been able to communicate to the younger guys, said they are better with crashing and it starts with Okongwu.

Stats and Notes: 

*A huge game here with the Hawks on a nine-game winning streak and the Magic not far behind with a seven-game winning streak. The Hawks have been running so hot with their schedule and haven’t faced a playoff team since Feb. 21 (I don’t think the 76ers and Blazers are making the playoffs). They have been great on the boards again and really good with their transition defense. They have been a little worse with their paint defense, though. For the Magic, they’ve had some tougher matchups in their win streak (MIA, CLE, MIN), and they have been locked in with their paint defense lately. They’re also rebounding it well and are not giving up C&S again. The on-ball guys for the Hawks will have to do their thing. 

*Paolo Banchero’s matchup isn’t clear, with it being either Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, or Dyson Daniels. I lean Daniels based on Daniels guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo a bunch in the last game, which should give Paolo a size advantage. Either way, this is still an OK spot for him with huge minutes going his way.

*Desmond Bane’s matchup is worse here with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and the Hawks have been much better on the ball overall. I’m not too into this spot for him.

*Wendell Carter Jr. is playing a ton and should get a decent matchup against a weaker paint defense. His minutes are way up, and the Magic probably won’t want to use their backup bigs in this spot.

*Jalen Johnson gets a smash spot here against a team that doesn’t help off enough. He did have two terrible games against them earlier this year at just 15/7/3, but that was way back in November and October (Trae Young for one). Expect him to play a boatload in this spot.

*Nickeil Alexander-Walker should play a ton, but his matchup isn’t great with Jalen Suggs set to guard him. The Magic also aren’t going to help off, likely limiting his C&S stuff, too.

*Onyeka Okongwu’s matchup isn’t all that great with the Magic rebounding the ball well these days. His minutes are trending up a decent bit, and he should get a ton here as well. It’s still not a great spot.

Great matchups: Paolo Banchero, Jalen Johnson

Good matchups: C.J. McCollum

Bad matchups: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu

Golden State Warriors (back end) at Washington Wizards (front end)