Orlando dropped its first game of 2026-27 at home to Atlanta, 132-125, after storming back from 79-65 down to lead 100-99 after three quarters. Paolo Banchero finished with 35 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists, but the Hawks won the fourth quarter 33-25.
The second quarter dug the hole, and the ball security made it deeper.
Atlanta won the second quarter 44-29 and built it on two 12-0 runs, one that started late in the first and one in the middle of the second. Orlando Magic Daily counted 13 Magic turnovers at halftime, and Dyson Daniels already had four steals against Orlando's ball handlers. Franz Wagner played only eight first-half minutes because of foul trouble, according to the same outlet, and the Magic missed his size on both ends. Atlanta led 72-62 at the break.
The third quarter showed what this group looks like when it protects the ball.
Orlando called timeout down 79-65 with nine minutes left in the third. It then outscored Atlanta 35-20 the rest of the quarter to lead 100-99. Orlando Magic Daily had the Magic at 15 of 20 from the line in the period with three turnovers to Atlanta's six. That is the formula: get downhill, draw fouls, don't give away possessions. Sweeney also won the first coach's challenge of his career, turning a da Silva foul into an offensive foul on Luguentz Dort.
Banchero earned the top grade; the fourth quarter got the failing one.
Banchero gets an A-minus. His 35 points and 10 assists came with a different approach, which Orlando Magic Daily described as getting into the paint and kicking out rather than forcing mid-range shots. Desmond Bane gets a C-minus. He was 3 for 11 at halftime on rushed drives and steadied to 18 points through three, per the Orlando Sentinel. Tristan da Silva earns a B for 12 bench points on 4-of-7 shooting from deep. At the 79-65 timeout, Banchero was minus-12 and Bane minus-11, while Wagner was minus-3 in 11 minutes. Then the defense that couldn't get stops in the first half gave up 33 in the fourth, and Jalen Johnson finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists.
Minnesota comes quickly, and two rotation players could come back for it.
At 0-1, Orlando sits 10th, one game behind the 1-0 Hornets for sixth. The Timberwolves visit on Oct. 23, followed by a trip to the Knicks on Oct. 25 and two games at Toronto on Oct. 28 and 30. Anthony Black (right ankle) and Jonathan Isaac (left knee) are both listed with Oct. 23 as their target date. Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson aren't expected back until Nov. 18. Cody Taylor of Rookie Wire saw Jamal Cain limp to the locker room, and Taylor said Cain was back on the bench soon after.
How did the Magic lose to the Hawks after leading going into the fourth quarter?
Orlando led 100-99 after three quarters but was outscored 33-25 in the fourth. That made the final 132-125 for Atlanta.
Will Anthony Black and Jonathan Isaac play against the Timberwolves?
Both are listed as out with a target return of Oct. 23, the date of Orlando's home game against Minnesota. Their status for that game has not been confirmed.
