The Orlando Magic will open their 2023 NBA season at home against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday at 7 p.m. EDT, with both teams facing notable absences due to injury. Orlando will be without Noah Penda, sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Jase Richardson and Franz Wagner are listed as day to day with back and shoulder issues respectively. The Hawks are missing Henri Veesaar for the entire season after an ACL injury and Mouhamed Gueye due to a foot injury.
Last season, the Magic finished with a 45-37 record, posting a 26-16 mark at home and going 9-8 in Southeast Division play. They averaged 115.7 points per game while conceding 115.1. The Hawks ended with a 46-36 record, went 22-19 on the road, and had a 9-7 division record. Defensively, Atlanta allowed opponents 116 points per game on average and gave up a 47.4% field goal percentage.
Orlando enters the season as slight favorites with a 2.5-point spread and an over/under set at 234.5. The Magic’s home performance last season was solid, but questions remain about how the team will handle the early injury setbacks, especially with Wagner’s availability uncertain. Atlanta faces its own challenges with Veesaar lost for the season, which will test their depth.
Both teams have struggled to contain opponents’ scoring in the past year, making this matchup potentially high scoring. The Hawks’ defensive numbers suggest they will need to tighten up to disrupt Orlando’s offense. Meanwhile, the Magic must manage without Penda and hope Richardson and Wagner can return quickly to maintain their offensive output.
Wednesday’s game will provide an early look at how each team adjusts to these absences as they aim to build momentum in the season opener. The latest injury reports indicate Richardson and Wagner remain day to day, with no confirmed return dates. The Magic and Hawks will need contributions from their healthy players to compensate in what should be a competitive start to the 2023 NBA season.
According to Yahoo Sports.
