Magic Ground Hawks, Warriors Prevail in Tight Battle with Grizzlies on First Night of the SoFi Play-In

Two 2025 NBA Playoff match-ups were established on Tuesday, with the Orlando Magic defeating the Atlanta Hawks 120-95 at home and the Golden State Warriors edging the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116. The Magic will face the Boston Celtics in the first round while the Hawks will face the winner of Tuesday night’s Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat contest for the right to face the top-seeded Cavaliers in Round 1. 

Trae Young led the Hawks with 28 points (6 assists) but was just 8-for-21 from the field and 11-for-12 from downtown on a night where the Hawks shot poorly overall (38%). Rookie Zaccharie Risacher was 2-for-10 from the field (1-for-5 from downtown). Dyson Daniels made only three of his eight shots but totaled 12 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks. Georges Niang was 5-for-11 off the bench for 15 points, and Mouhamed Gueye scored 12 with 4 rebounds on 5-for-5. Onyeka Okongwu posted 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block on 5-for-10 shooting. 

The Hawks were outrebounded 54-42, with Paolo Banchero accounting for nine (all on the defensive glass) and Franz Wagner pulling in 13, 12 on the defensive end. Banchero shot just 4-for-13 (9-for-11 from the field, 0-for-3 from 3-point range) and finished with 17 points and 7 assists to go along with his 9 rebounds. Wagner shot just 6-for-15 and 0-for-5 from deep for 13 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals and 1 block. 

Wendell Carter Jr. led the Magic starters with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks on 8-for-12 shooting. But it was Cole Anthony who shone the brightest, with a team-high 26 points with 6 assists (10-for-17, 4-for-9 from deep, 2-for-2 from the line). Anthony Black was 6-for-7 off the bench for 16 points. 

The Magic shot 48% from the field and made 11 of 39 threes in contrast to the Hawks’ 4-for-21 from long range. The Hawks made 27 of 34 foul shots, while the Magic connected on 21 of 27. 

The difference in the game was the complementary players, the Hawks not getting what they needed out of Risacher and a player like Caris LeVert, who is a capable spark off the bench was only 3-for-11 shooting. The Hawks no doubt could have used the services of Clint Capela, who has not played since March 10 due to a hand injury. 

While the Celtics rank 2nd in the NBA in both opponent points (107.2) and offensive rating (119.5) and 4th in defensive rating (110.1), they are 2nd in opponent field-goal percentage at 45%, and of course the league’s top team in both 3-pointers made (17.8) and attempted (48.2). The Magic are 28th in points per game (105.4), and 27th in field-goal percentage (44.5). They are last in 3-point percentage at 31.8, but are first in opponent points, giving up 105.5 per game. They are second in defensive rating at 109.1, but are 27th in offensive rating (108.9). The Magic did take two out of three from the Celtics in the regular season, but in April 9th’s 96-76 victory, the Celtics played their second unit. Still, the Magic should put up their best effort defensively, however who knows if it will be enough against a Celtic team that blitzes nearly every team that they face with scoring barrages and a team that also has defensive and shot-making at every position on the floor.    

In the nightcap, the Warriors and Grizzlies delivered a spectacular show, a game that was close right up until the end when Stephen Curry began to take over in the Warriors’ 121-116 win. 

Curry (9-for-22, 6-for-13, 13-for-13) scored 37 points with 8 rebounds and 4 assists, including clutch triples late that kept the Grizzlies just out of reach. Jimmy Butler, known over the years to springboard his game in the playoffs, scored a game-high 38 points (12-for-20, 2-for-4, 12-for-18) playing all over the court and making plays. Gary Payton II was 5-for-10 off the bench for 12 points, while Quinten Post was stellar in 22 minutes with 11 points and 5 rebounds (4-for-5, 3-for-4 from downtown). Draymond Green, despite 1-for-5 shooting and missing his three trifecta attempts for just 4 points, registered a game-high 10 assists with 6 rebounds and 3 steals. 

On the Grizzlies’ side, Ja Morant put together an admirable performance, especially in continuing to play after coming down awkwardly on his ankle on a made baseline attempt late in the third quarter. After a few possessions and getting tended to on the bench, Morant returned to the game and hit a mid-range shot and made some key plays to keep the Grizzlies close, who recovered from a 20-point second quarter deficit. Morant was 9-for-18 for 22 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Desmond Bane was clutch down the stretch hitting timely three-pointers. Bane (11-for-21, 5-for-8, 3-for-3) finished with a team-high 30 points with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. was 6-for-15 (4-for-9 from deep) for 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Jackson Jr. is somewhat of a frustrating player in that he does not use his size to his advantage when he could, staying on the perimeter and shooting threes when he could use his size in the paint to get easier looks. He also could be a much better rebounder. 

Rookie Zach Edey pulled in 17 rebounds, but in scoring 14 points was just 4-for-11 from the field and with no blocked shots. Still just a rookie, he does get flustered on occasion when under the basket, and an experienced team like the Warriors will crowd him and create issues, as they did on Tuesday night. 

Santi Aldama played a good game for the Grizzlies off the bench with 14 points and 8 rebounds on 5-for-8 shooting, while Scotty Pippen Jr. posted 9 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists on 3-for-8. 

The Grizzlies maintained a 50-39 rebounding advantage, but committed 19 turnovers to the Warriors’ 10. Experience seemed to become a factor, but Morant not being able to drive the lane late was a big advantage for the home Warriors.

Morant’s health will be a major focus as we get closer to Friday and the Grizzlies’ matchup for the 8th seed against the winner of Wednesday’s Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings game. They will have a big advantage playing at home, but will need Morant to be at full go. 

The Warriors, meanwhile, earned the 7th seed with their Tuesday victory and will face the 2-seed Houston Rockets in a series that will be highly competitive. The Rockets, the best rebounding team in the NBA (48.5 per game, 14.6 offensive), are also 6th in opponent field-goal percentage (45.9), 6th in opponent points per game (109.8) and 5th in defensive rating (110.3). Golden State in contrast is 8th in points allowed (110.5), 11th in opponent field-goal percentage (46.5), 5th in rebounding (45.4) and 7th in defensive rating (111.0). There are some compelling matchups with Dillon Brooks against Jimmy Butler and Alperen Sengun, one of the top post players in the league who averages 10.3 rebounds, against Green. Amen Thompson is one of the league’s best wing defenders and will be a challenge for the Warriors. Brooks is a pest on that end of the floor and can also hit the three. A prevailing thought amongst some is the Rockets’ lack of experience, but Brooks has been in some battles, and Fred VanVleet was a key player on a championship Raptor team in 2019 that went against the Warriors. The Rockets were 2-3 during the regular season against the Warriors, with two of the losses decided by seven points, and six points, the latter in a 127-121 overtime affair on November 7. 

The series will be one of the best of the opening round.