Hawks open season against Magic in Orlando

A new season begins in Orlando

The Atlanta Hawks are scheduled to visit the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on Wednesday night, opening the 2026-27 NBA regular season for both teams. The NBA lists tipoff for 7 p.m. Eastern. The matchup is in Orlando, where the Magic start the campaign at home. ^{[1] [2]}

At 7:08 p.m. Eastern, the NBA game page and the CBS Sports tracker still did not show a confirmed score or completed box score. The official NBA summary and chart pages continue to identify the game and its scheduled start, but do not supply a live result. A final score, statistical leaders, injuries affecting participation and any decisive sequence therefore remain unconfirmed in the sources available for this report. ^{[1] [2]}

Atlanta brings momentum from last season

Atlanta enters the opener after a 46-36 season in which it finished atop the Southeast Division, then pushed the eventual champion New York Knicks to six games in the first round, the Associated Press reported in its preview. The Hawks won 19 of their final 24 regular-season games and swept all four meetings with Orlando last season, winning by an average of 15 points. ^[2]

The AP preview identified Jalen Johnson as a central figure for Atlanta after he averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists and earned his first All-Star selection. Nickeil Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8 points and was named the NBA's Most Improved Player. Veteran guard CJ McCollum joined Atlanta during the previous season after the team traded Trae Young to Washington. These are last-season figures, not Wednesday's game statistics. ^[2]

A reset for the Magic

Orlando finished 45-37 last season and reached the playoffs through the play-in tournament before losing its first-round series to Detroit after leading 3-1. The team begins this season under new coach Sean Sweeney, who replaced Jamahl Mosley. The Associated Press preview described a largely unchanged roster with Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane among the team's leading players. ^[2]

The preview also noted Orlando's addition of center Nikola Vucevic, who returned to the franchise on a one-year free-agent contract after finishing the prior season with Boston. Vucevic spent parts of nine seasons with the Magic earlier in his career. His return gives the team a familiar option in the frontcourt as it looks to rebound from the playoff exit; the available game tracker did not yet confirm his role or availability for the opener. ^[2]

The clubs' next scheduled games are both Friday: Orlando is set to host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Kia Center, while Atlanta is set to visit the Charlotte Hornets. Those dates are listed on the teams' official schedules; Wednesday's result remains pending confirmation from the NBA box score. ^{[3] [4] [1]}

The accompanying arena image is archival, from WFTV's coverage of an earlier Magic play-in game at Kia Center, and does not depict Wednesday's matchup. ^[5]