# Alexander-Walker lifts Hawks past Magic, 132-125, in opener

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 31 points and hit two late three-pointers as Atlanta won its season opener in Orlando.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / Basketball
Published: 2026-10-21T23:08:08Z
Updated: 2026-10-22T04:21:52Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/1687v5e-hawks-magic-opener-orlando
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/b78687ec6948f5e552006a6d59cddd41.avif (Fans watch a basketball game at Kia Center in Orlando.; credit: WFTV / Cox Media Group; archival illustrative photo from WFTV's Kia Center coverage, not the 2026 game.)

## Summary
- Atlanta beat Orlando 132-125 in both teams' 2026-27 season opener at Kia Center.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 31 points and made two three-pointers in the final two minutes.
- Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 35 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists.
- The Hawks overcame a third-quarter Magic surge and a one-point margin late in the fourth.

## Hawks finish strong in Orlando

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 31 points and delivered two three-pointers in the final two minutes to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 132-125 road win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. The teams opened their 2026-27 NBA seasons at Kia Center. Atlanta's final margin was seven points, and the result gave the Hawks a winning start while spoiling the coaching debut of Orlando's Sean Sweeney. The NBA's official game page and independent game coverage both list the contest as final, resolving the earlier uncertainty around the score. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/nickeil-alexander-walkers-late-baskets-key-hawks-win-over-magic--flm-2026-10-22/) [2](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/boxscore/NBA_20261021_ATL%40ORL/) [3](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-orl-0022600085/box-score)

Alexander-Walker's late shots turned a tight finish. With Atlanta ahead 122-121, he hit consecutive threes that pushed the lead to 128-123; the Hawks held on from there. He finished 5-for-8 from three-point range and made 10 of 13 free throws. Reuters reported that the sequence extended Atlanta's advantage after the margin had narrowed to one, while the NBA box score records the completed game and player totals. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/nickeil-alexander-walkers-late-baskets-key-hawks-win-over-magic--flm-2026-10-22/) [3](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-orl-0022600085/box-score)

## Orlando rallies, but Atlanta answers

The Magic set the early pace, leading by as many as 10 in the first quarter and taking a 33-28 advantage into the second. Atlanta reversed the momentum before halftime, building a 72-62 lead. Orlando then surged back: after trailing by as many as 14 in the third, the Magic used a 20-7 edge in free throws in that period to move ahead 100-99 entering the fourth. The quarter-by-quarter totals were Atlanta 28-44-27-33 and Orlando 33-29-38-25. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/nickeil-alexander-walkers-late-baskets-key-hawks-win-over-magic--flm-2026-10-22/) [2](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/boxscore/NBA_20261021_ATL%40ORL/) [3](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-orl-0022600085/box-score)

A pivotal review came with 4:27 left, when Jalen Johnson was called for an offensive foul that would have been his sixth. Atlanta challenged, and the call was overturned, keeping Johnson in the game. The Hawks then closed behind Alexander-Walker's shooting. It was Atlanta's sixth consecutive victory over Orlando, according to Reuters' game report. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/nickeil-alexander-walkers-late-baskets-key-hawks-win-over-magic--flm-2026-10-22/) [2](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/boxscore/NBA_20261021_ATL%40ORL/)

## Banchero leads Magic effort

Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 35 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists, making 10 of 12 shots from the field. Wendell Carter Jr. and Franz Wagner added 22 points apiece, while Desmond Bane scored 18. Atlanta received 20 points each from Dyson Daniels and Johnson; Daniels also had five steals, and Johnson added 14 rebounds. CJ McCollum contributed 19 points for the winners. The figures are reported in the Reuters recap and reflected in the league's official box score. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/nickeil-alexander-walkers-late-baskets-key-hawks-win-over-magic--flm-2026-10-22/) [3](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-orl-0022600085/box-score)

The opener offered a reversal of the clubs' prior-season context: Atlanta had swept their four meetings last season, and now carried that run into the new campaign with another win. Orlando's 125 points and its late third-quarter lead were not enough to overcome Atlanta's closing execution. Both teams leave the opener with their first result recorded; the game's final score and leaders are confirmed, rather than pending. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/nickeil-alexander-walkers-late-baskets-key-hawks-win-over-magic--flm-2026-10-22/) [2](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/boxscore/NBA_20261021_ATL%40ORL/) [3](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-orl-0022600085/box-score)

## Reporting sources
1. [Reuters / Field Level Media: Nickeil Alexander-Walker's late baskets key Hawks' win over Magic](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/nickeil-alexander-walkers-late-baskets-key-hawks-win-over-magic--flm-2026-10-22/) (2026-10-22)
2. [CBS Sports / Associated Press: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Hawks hold off Paolo Banchero and Magic](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/boxscore/NBA_20261021_ATL%40ORL/) (2026-10-21)
3. [NBA.com: Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic Oct 21, 2026 Box Scores](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-orl-0022600085/box-score) (2026-10-21)