A new rumor suggests the recently fired head coach is the favorite to get a similar start with the Orlando Magic. And the strange thing is that he too was appointed to this job two decades ago.

After blowing a 3–1 lead in their opening-round playoff matchup against the Detroit Pistons, Magic management decided that the team needed a new voice leading their locker room and bench in 2026–27. Still, it won’t be easy to replace former head coach Jamahl Mosley after playing a leading role in building the team into a playoff contender.

The organization has been linked to several experienced coaches to replace Mosley. However, according to NBA insider Jake Fisher, there appears to be a strong contender for the position. “Coaching insiders across the league landscape are operating under the belief that former Bulls coach Billy Donovan has an excellent chance to land the position.”

Fisher said the former Chicago Bulls head coach “has been talking with Magic president Jeff Weltman and will soon have an in-person meeting with the Orlando chief executive”. Donovan resigned from his role with the Bulls last month following a 31-51 finish and a fourth consecutive loss in Chicago. His record as a coach in the NBA is 469-413.

The former Florida Gators coach was hired as head coach of the Magic in 2007, before he reneged on the deal and returned to the Gators. He eventually jumped to the NBA eight years later with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jeff Van Gundy is also a contender for the head coach position of Orlando Magic

While Donovan appears to be a strong contender to become the next head coach of the Magic, it is not a done deal. Another experienced coach with a strong resume who Fisher claims is in the running for the job is former New York Knicks and Houston Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy.

He left coaching in 2007 and remained a favorite on-air voice for the NBA on ESPN for several years. However, after 16 years, he was let go by the network in 2023. Since then, he has been a consultant for the Boston Celtics and is currently an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he has earned praise.

Van Gundy’s career record as a head coach is 430–318. His peak came when he led the Knicks for seven seasons, leading them to the playoffs six times, including their last trip to the Finals in 1999.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

In a surprising development, the 8th-seeded Orlando Magic continued their stellar performance to take a 2-1 series lead against the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons. The Magic got an excellent performance from Paolo Banchero with a near triple-double. The Pistons—who had never really been challenged in the Eastern Conference all year—were now firmly on their heels.

The Orlando Magic have lost six straight games and will now host the Sacramento Kings on Thursday at the Kia Center. The losing streak came as the Magic played their best basketball this season en route to a seven-game winning streak.

They are still 10th in the East and within shooting distance of the playoff spots, and will now attempt to turn their fortunes around against a Kings team that has struggled to win in recent games as well. They have lost three of their last four matches and are struggling with several injuries themselves.

For the Magic, Jalen Suggs is on the official injury report due to illness. Suggs last played in a 105–104 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers, when he contributed 14 points and six assists. Orlando is also facing three other confirmed absences, although their injury list is shorter than the Kings’.

Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Russell Westbrook, and De’Andre Hunter have all rounded out the supporting cast.

Jalen Suggs vs. Kings injury status

Suggs’ potential absence means the Magic can once again rely on the indispensable production of Paolo Banchero to get them over the line. Suggs has not featured in the last two matches and has been a key presence for his team when fit.

He’s averaging 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game and his production will be a big miss despite the Kings’ weak lineup. Paolo Banchero, who is averaging 22.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, recently became the fifth player in franchise history to record consecutive 35-point games.

Regardless, with Franz Wagner also sidelined, fans will be hoping Suggs can return to the lineup. Despite their mixed performance, the Kings have plenty of talent to test in Orlando.

DeMar DeRozan is averaging 18.2 points on 49.2% shooting, while Malik Monk is going 39.7% from three-point field, but struggled against the Charlotte Hornets last time out. Devin Carter and Maxime Renaud have also been in points in recent weeks, and their production could prove key to Sacramento once again competing.

The Magic completely defeated the Kings in their last meeting, winning 131-94, and will once again be looking for a comfortable win given the extent of Sacramento’s absences.

magical injury report

Jalen Suggs – questionable (illness)

Anthony Black – out (left lateral abdominal strain)

Jonathan Isaac – Out (left knee sprain)

Franz Wagner – Out (left high ankle sprain; injury management)

Kings injury report

Precious Achiuwa – Questionable (Lower Back Pain)

Killian Hayes – doubtful (swelling of left toe).

Nick Clifford – Out (middle left hamstring sprain)

Drew Eubanks – Out (left thumb UCL repair)

De’Andre Hunter – out (retina repair of left eye)

Zach LaVine – out (right fifth finger tendon repair)

Keegan Murray – out (left ankle sprain)

Domantas Sabonis – Out (left knee meniscus repair)

Russell Westbrook – Out (inflammation in right big toe joint)

Tracy McGrady is one of the best scorers in NBA history and obviously one of the best players in Orlando Magic franchise history.

It was with the Magic that McGrady became one of the best players in the NBA, leading the league in scoring twice (2003, 2004), while leading Orlando to three consecutive playoff appearances.

Fast forward to the present day, the Magic have a new franchise face in Paolo Banchero. The 23-year-old hasn’t even reached the prime of his career yet, but he’s already shown his potential by earning an All-Star bid during the 2023-24 season, a year after winning Rookie of the Year.

The Magic have been an annual playoff team in the Banchero era, advancing to the playoffs each of the last two years. However, this year’s team – especially after the addition of Desmond Benn – was expected to make the jump from a marginal playoff team to one of the very elite teams of the East.

Despite serious injuries to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum – he recently made his season debut – and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, the Magic are still sixth in the Eastern Conference and trying to avoid the play-in tournament. Entering Saturday’s game, Orlando is 38-31 and just a half-game ahead of the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers.

McGrady believes Banchero has ‘superstar’ potential

Banchero is having a good season, but hasn’t really taken the next step up to the elite level. McGrady said “it will come” for the young star.

“It will come,” McGrady said in Banchero’s one-on-one interview. “He’s young, he’s trying to figure it out. There’s a lot of pressure on a young player, and he’s learning. Not having a real, true vet to really teach him and help him understand and guide him on how this thing works, I’m sure it’s very hard for him.

McGrady – who was a superstar himself and is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame – said Banchero has the “tools” to become a superstar player.

“But in terms of tools, size, I think he has what it takes to be a superstar — not All-Star — superstar player,” McGrady said. “I think it’s up to him how he approaches the game and the information he’s consuming, and how you apply it when you’re on the basketball court? Are you reaching out to vets, people who have been in that situation? Are you getting that advice? How are you taking that advice? Or are you pushing it? Are you implementing it? I think there’s a lot of things he can do to help him get to that level. But his Has the size, has the tools, I think he can definitely get there.”

McGrady – who has played against LeBron James several times in his career – said Banchero should be at “LeBron status” in terms of what his stat line should look like. For perspective, James is one of the greatest players of all-time and has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game during his career.

Banchero is currently averaging 22.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

“That stat line should be on LeBron’s situation in terms of what he should look like every night,” Banchero’s McGrady said.

When McGrady was asked to make a comparison to the fourth-year player, he said he didn’t, because no one reminds him of the 6-foot-10 Banchero and what he is capable of doing on the court.

“No, he doesn’t really remind me of anyone,” McGrady said. “He’s 6 foot 10 inches, brother. He’s a big man. When I talk to him when I’m down there, if I go watch a game or something, and I’m around those guys, I have a conversation with him. But other than that, I don’t have any kind of relationship with him. But he’s a big man. Man, he’s a big man. Man, 6-10, heavy and just talk about mass. If he wants to, he should be Average of 30 points in this league.”

Luka Kennard expressed excitement after making the game-winning 3-pointer in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 105-104 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

Kennard is in the ninth season of his NBA career, his first with the Lakers. He has proven useful as a sharpshooter, being a valuable spark plug on the second unit.

His shooting abilities came to the fore in Los Angeles’ battle with Orlando. He got a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation, keeping the team’s winning streak intact for another game. Kennard reflected on the clutch highlights after the game and explained what happened on the biggest play of the night.

“First of all, great performance by us. Executed the play before we even thought we got fouled, everything that came back here, we executed a play, tried to get LeBron to the rim. Two guys went. Smart made a good play, and I was able to knock it down,” Kennard said.

Luke Kennard be ready. 🎯
Big time shot when it mattered most.

Mike Trudell holds up Luke Kennard after winning the game against the Magic pic.twitter.com/ZaZBOIkwQl

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 22 March 2026

Luke Kennard, how the Lakers played against the Magic

Luke Kennard proved himself to be a team player who will perform well in the biggest moments, helping the Lakers get a win over the Magic.

Four players scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the win, including Kennard. He finished with a stat line of 13 points and three rebounds on 5-7 shooting from the field. Luka Doncic led the team with 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Austin Reaves came in next with 26 points and seven rebounds, while LeBron James provided 12 points and six rebounds.

Los Angeles improved to a 46–25 record on the season and finished third in the Western Conference standings. They are ranked above the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.

Riding a nine-consecutive win streak, the Lakers will be looking forward to their next contest. They remain on the road when they take on the Detroit Pistons on March 23 at 7pm ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers escaped with a 105-104 win against the Orlando Magic, courtesy of Luke Kennard’s game-winning 3-point shot. But the game could cost them as they travel to face the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Luka Doncic committed his 16th technical foul of the season, triggering an automatic suspension unless it is overturned, something Lakers head coach JJ Redick is hoping will happen.

After the Lakers’ win against the Magic, Redick revealed what caused Doncic’s technical foul and why the team plans to appeal it with the league.

“We’ll obviously try to cancel it out,” Redick said during his postgame press conference. “There were some things that were said in reference to Luca’s mother in a language that the referee could not understand.”

Doncic also explained the situation, noting that Goga Bitadze crossed a line when he said he should have done better for his teammates.

“You know, I let my team down by getting that last one. But honestly, I wasn’t trying to do that,” Doncic said. “He said if we don’t do it, he’ll kill my whole family. And at some point, you know, it’s a basketball court. At some point, I can’t stand it anymore [by]I have to stand up for myself. But I know I have to do better. My teammates, I know they support me. So I disappointed them today.”

“He (Goga) said he would kill my entire family. And at some point, I can’t bear it. I have to stand up for myself.”

Luka Doncic speaks on what was said about his technical foul 😳

pic.twitter.com/9j8nhnZdjM https://t.co/XQM5QY8BbS

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 22 March 2026

If the technical foul is not cleared, the Lakers will be without their star as they take on the Eastern Conference leading team. Doncic’s interactions with referees have been a topic of discussion throughout the season. According to the NBA rulebook, Doncic will be suspended for every two technicals picked up after 16. The Lakers have 12 regular season games remaining.

Once the playoffs begin, the technical foul count is reset, but the suspension trigger is set to seven.

Doncic’s condition has deteriorated amid technical problems. He has propelled himself right into the middle of the MVP race with the Lakers holding the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Their win against the Magic was their ninth consecutive, and they extended their lead over the No. 4 seed Houston Rockets to three games.

Doncic finished with 33 points, giving him the NBA’s longest active streak of scoring 30 or more points in consecutive games.

Coming into Saturday’s game, Doncic had appeared in 58 games at a rate of just over 35 minutes per game. He averaged a league-leading 33.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.6 steals with splits of 47.7 percent shooting from the field, 37 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 77.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

He also led the NBA in shot attempts at 22.5, 3-point shots at 4.0, 3-point shots at 10.8 and free throw attempts at 10.4.

As the Lakers now head to Detroit, they will wait to see if the NBA will take action after what was revealed about how the entire situation erupted.

The Los Angeles Lakers face the Orlando Magic on Saturday night and Austin Reaves is once again at the center of the injury report. He is listed as questionable because of left hip soreness, making the Lakers guard the focus of attention as the team tries to extend its eight-game winning streak and solidify its playoff position.

The Lakers entered the matchup at 45–25, No. 3 in the Western Conference, and continued their strong push toward the postseason. Meanwhile, the Magic dropped to 38-31, No. 6 in the East, looking to snap a three-game losing streak and make the playoffs. Here’s everything we know from the injury report regarding Austin Reaves and his game status vs. the Magic.

Reeves has played a major role this season. In 44 games, he averaged 23.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He is shooting 49.4 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from three and 86.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Additionally, Reeves continues to produce offense at a high level. He handles playmaking duties and consistently generates scoring opportunities. His presence gives the Lakers balance and rhythm, especially with their stars.

austin reeves injury status vs magic

The Lakers’ injury report notes Reeves’ availability as particularly important. Maxi Kleber (back) is out, putting pressure on the rotation. Los Angeles needs Reaves’ scoring and playmaking to maintain their current pace.

On the other hand, Magic is struggling with several injuries. Anthony Black (abdomen) and Jonathan Isaac (knee) are out. Franz Wagner (ankle) is also sidelined, while Wendell Carter Jr. (rib) is questionable.

The Lakers are looking to continue moving forward. Trying to stop the magic slide. So when it comes to whether Austin Reeves is playing vs. the Magic tonight, the answer is uncertain. His status is questionable, and his availability will depend on pregame evaluation.

Despite the NBA canceling the Magic City promotion, the crowd came to life for TI’s halftime performance during the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic game.

While some NBA fans were in a somber mood after the NBA decided to cancel the Magic City promotion, the ATL icon’s performance made them forget – even if only for a few minutes. TI performed his latest single, “Let ‘Em Know”, which came out in January, which got the crowd standing, dancing and rapping along to the lyrics.

The Hawks’ primary owner, Jami Gertz, has ties to the Magic City as he was the producer of a five-part documentary that honored the club’s legacy, and how it influenced hip-hop, Black culture, and the city of Atlanta.

“After the work we did to create ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,’ this collaboration and theme night is very meaningful to me,” Gertz said when the promotion was announced. “The iconic Atlanta institution has had such an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture.”

Some NBA fans were very happy with the infamous strip club’s partnership with the Hawks as they are both prominent parts of the culture. While some fans were excited for the collaboration, which would have started with last night’s game, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver shut down the promotion.

“When we learned of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and reasoning,” Silver said in a statement. “While we appreciate the team’s vision and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a wide range of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees. I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community.”

While some Hawks fans were disappointed, the franchise respected the NBA’s decision.

“Although we are deeply disappointed by the NBA’s decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion, we fully respect its decision,” the Hawks said in a statement. “As a franchise, we are committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta – with authenticity – in ways that continue to unify and bring us closer together.”

周一晚上，亚特兰大老鹰队在主场轻松战胜奥兰多魔术队，取得十连胜。这场比赛原本被定为“魔幻之城之夜”，本应是球队与当地成人娱乐机构合作的一场比赛，但在受到圣安东尼奥马刺队大个子卢克·科内特的批评后，NBA最终取消了这场比赛。

然而，据美联社报道，尽管如此，许多到场的球迷还是对场地表示了支持。

美联社通过 ESPN 报道称：“不管是否合作，很多老鹰队球迷都穿着相应的衣服。魔术城的装备，无论是官方还是非官方商品，在人群中都是常见的。那些自豪地穿着俱乐部运动衫的人包括老鹰队主要老板贾米·格茨，她坐在半场附近，观看亚特兰大队以 124-112 获胜，”美联社通过 ESPN 报道。

格茨与魔术城有联系，此前曾制作过一部关于这座标志性夜生活场所的纪录片。

与此同时，在球场上，老鹰队周一打出了本赛季最令人印象深刻的表现，击败了已经取得七连胜的奥兰多队，并将自己的战绩扩大到十连胜。

其中的英雄是尼克尔·亚历山大-沃克，他以 9 个三分球得到 41 分，继续当选年度进步最快球员，而贾伦·约翰逊则连续第二次砍下今年的第 13 个三双。

老鹰队现在距离东部前六名仅差一场半，这意味着他们将彻底退出附加赛。

亚特兰大队接下来将于周三晚上与达拉斯小牛队进行一场客场比赛，他们希望将连胜纪录扩大到 11 场。比赛定于美国东部时间晚上 8:30 进行。

On Monday evening, the Atlanta Hawks picked up their tenth consecutive win with a comfortable home win over the Orlando Magic. The game was originally named “Magic City Night”, which was supposed to be a collaboration between the team and a local adult entertainment establishment, but the NBA ultimately canceled the promotion after criticism from San Antonio Spurs big man Luke Kornet.

However, despite this, many fans in attendance showed support for the venue anyway, as described by the Associated Press.

The Associated Press reported via ESPN, “Support or not, plenty of Hawks fans were dressed the same way. Magic City gear, both official and unofficial merchandise, was a common sight throughout the crowd. Among those proudly wearing club sweatshirts was Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz, who sat near halfcourt watching Atlanta cruise to a 124-112 victory.”

Gertz has ties to the Magic City, having previously produced a documentary about the iconic nightlife establishment.

Meanwhile, on the court, the Hawks had their most impressive performance of the season on Monday, defeating an Orlando team that was on a seven-game winning streak in its own right, and extending their own run to ten consecutive wins.

The hero was Nickell Alexander-Walker, who continued his Most Improved Player of the Year campaign with 41 points on nine three pointers, while Jalen Johnson recorded his 13th triple double of the year and second consecutive.

The Hawks are now just a game and a half out of the top six in the East, which would mean missing out on the play-in tournament altogether.

Atlanta will next take the field on Wednesday evening for a road game against the Dallas Mavericks as they look to take their streak to 11. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.

Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu didn’t miss a chance to get back at Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane on Monday.

The Hawks hosted the Magic at State Farm Arena, and the contest heated up in the third quarter, as Okongwu and Benn caught the ball under the basket.

As he fell to the floor, Okongwu threw the ball towards Bain, causing a technical glitch.

To recall, Bane was ejected against the Hawks in November for pulling down Okongwu while attempting to lift the ball.

Onyeka Okongwu received a technical blow for throwing the ball at Desmond Benn in Hawks-Magic.

Earlier this season, Ben had this Okongwu:pic.twitter.com/hrBcbv5n8X https://t.co/c1sUUpSmnr

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 17 March 2026

Obviously, there is no love between them.

Fortunately, Ben did not retaliate, as he and Okongwu were quickly separated.

Following their incident in November, Okongwu, 25, reported that the rivalry between Atlanta and Orlando is growing, while also taking aim at the 27-year-old Bane.

“We don’t really like the Magic. To be honest, they don’t really like us,” Okongwu said.

“I can already tell he’s (Bain) frustrated out there. He’s not having the best year. You know if I was in the same position he was in there.”

Okongwu is having his best campaign so far and is shaping up to be one of the league’s most underrated big men. Entering his game against the Magic he was averaging career-highs of 15.8 points, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals, to go with 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.

At the time of writing, Atlanta leads Orlando comfortably in the fourth quarter. Okongwu had 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one block.

MIAMI – As the Miami Heat saw the return of Norman Powell and Tyler Herro, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, losing 121-117. The Heat had major momentum after Bam Adebayo scored a historic 83 points on Tuesday and won seven straight games on Thursday, a streak that was snapped, albeit in an instance that left teammates angry.

Although Miami struggled in the first half, with Orlando jumping out to a 22-point lead, the team returned to its strength on both sides of the ball in the second half, making it a close game with less than a minute left in the contest. The game-changing moment was when the Heat were down four points with 36.6 seconds left in the game as Pelle Larsson inbounded the ball.

After Larson did not blow the referee’s whistle, Miami called for a five-second violation, with the team clearly upset by the decision.

pic.twitter.com/XzNeAqrclL

– /r/Heat (@tomgreen99200) 15 March 2026

With the team and officiating working on it all night, Adebayo had a strong message, calling out the referee who “changed” the game.

“As for the call, it felt like it was swift. That’s what’s frustrating about it, because if we say anything about it we get fined,” Adebayo told ClutchPoints. “But it changed the game. And when you change the game, you’ve got to stick with it.”

“Then on the other side, I felt like they had a five-second call that wasn’t called. Changed the game,” Adebayo continued. “They influence the game in a way that sometimes has an impact, and they get to go home and sleep peacefully, and we’re talking about a call here that you feel should have been called or wasn’t called.”

Asked Bam Adebayo about the controversial five-second call and the second half.

“The disappointing thing is that if we say anything about it we get fined, but it changed the game. When you change the game you have to stick to it…” #HeatNation

Full response: pic.twitter.com/8xKFrU3XTd

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

Heat’s Norman Powell says controversial call by refs was “BS”

Heat players raised their voices about the five-second violation, though they all mentioned how the team suffered in the first half, especially when the Magic were allowed to score 41 points, shooting nearly 70 percent from the field in the first quarter. Still, the violation was a stifling call that took away momentum from Miami, such that the call could have been considered a toss-up; Many on the Heat believe this decision was made too quickly.

Star Norman Powell spoke openly about his displeasure with the call, after scoring 20 points off the bench in his return after missing seven games due to a groin strain, telling ClutchPoints that the five-second violation was “BS.”

“It was so fast we didn’t even get through our first two options before they called a five-second violation,” Powell said. “And late in the game, we tried to get them the ball inbounds, they allowed them to call timeout when it was obviously longer than our five-second call. So, we just got frustrated when we were trying to figure out how we could steal the game on the inbounds.”

Norman Powell was asked about repeated calls with referees, particularly the controversial five-second call:

“I thought the five-second call was BS…” #HeatNation

Full response: pic.twitter.com/Hg8H0euAwx

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

Another player who returned from injury, this time missing two contests due to quadriceps soreness, was Tyler Herro. Finishing the game with 10 points on a disappointing shooting night, he agreed it was a quick call, but says the team will “stick with it”.

“I don’t think it was five seconds. It was a quick five,” Herro said. “Obviously, we stepped back and put ourselves in a position to be limited to four, limited to three, reduced to a one-possession game. But we can’t put ourselves in that position.”

Tyler Herro’s full comments after the loss where he talks about five-second violations being quick, the message about Norman Powell’s role with the return and the Heat not having the defensive flair to start: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/45tkLUA0W6

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

Erik Spoelstra on self-inflicted wounds by the Heat

While the Heat had an inspiring win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, the loss against the Magic hurt for a number of reasons, the main one being that Miami has been unable to defeat Orlando in its five games this season. The Magic are just the second team in the last three decades to defeat a team (the Heat) five times in a single season.

While Spoelstra also agreed about the five-second call being harsh, he would discuss how the team positions itself for the referee’s single call as the deciding factor.

“They said it was five seconds. I mean, I haven’t gone through the mechanics of it yet, but it felt like a quick five,” Spoelstra said. “But still, we put ourselves in that position. And defensively in the second half, we made a lot of stands, holding them to 37 percent and 50 points. It was a lot different than that first half.”

Spoelstra continued, “We were getting attacked off the dribble, a lot of them, in one-on-one situations, and then in different ways, then cuts, then transitions, we didn’t set the tone for the game defensively.” “And then the rest of the second half, we had to dig out from behind. We don’t want to get into the habit of allowing teams to score 70 and a half runs on us without any resistance.”

Erik Spoelstra said the five-second violation felt quick, but he said the Heat put themselves in that situation. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/qd9Rq3n2f9

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

The loss to the Heat dropped them to 38-30 on the season, leaving them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, with their next game coming on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets.

Given the frenzy surrounding the Miami Heat after star Bam Adebayo scored a historic 83 points on Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards, the team is undoubtedly focused on securing a better spot in the postseason. As the team has struggled with injuries, Friday’s injury report indicated that Heat guard Norman Powell could return, now adding Herro into the mix.

Both have been upgraded to “available” for Saturday’s crucial game against the Orlando Magic, as Powell has missed the last seven games with a right groin strain. Originally labeled as “week-to-week” by Miami, it seems as if seven games was good enough for his recovery, as the team is missing its leading scorer (22.5 points per game) and first-time All-Star.

Herro had missed the last two contests due to left quadriceps soreness, marking a major comeback from a 15-game absence due to a rib injury. Reminding the basketball world of his All-Star potential, he played every game after the All-Star break until last Tuesday.

In March, Herro was averaging 26.3 points per game on 53.7 shooting from the field and 51.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Could the Heat’s role be changing for Norman Powell with Tyler Herro?

As evidenced by the change in Powell and Herro’s Heat roles, the chemistry between the two has been a process throughout the season, with injuries coming their way, as Saturday will mark the 12th game the two have played together. Herro had missed a total of 45 games before Powell suffered a groin injury, with the latter taking on the role of being the main offensive weapon alongside Adebayo and flourishing, leading to an All-Star season.

However, Powell could perhaps see a role coming off the bench, mostly to get his feet under him to recover from injury, as Herro did the same after each injury. With Miami’s record at 38-29, sixth in the East, and Orlando at 37-28, fifth in the conference, there’s no denying how important Saturday’s game is for the Heat.

Since the Atlanta Hawks announced they would dedicate a night to the Magic City institution on March 16, there has been a tremendous discussion in the sports world about whether it is the right thing to do. Some people also expressed displeasure with the Hawks defending Magic City Night, leading the league to announce that it had canceled the event.

League commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that “canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community.”

“When we learned of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale. While we appreciate the team’s perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a wide range of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees.”

Luke Cornett was at the forefront of objecting to the Hawks’ Magic City Night

One of the first prominent people to object to the Hawks doing Magic City Night was Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs, saying the team should cancel the event. He would even go so far as to say that it would “reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, especially because of the potential objectification and abuse of women in our society.”

“I and others throughout the league were surprised by the Hawks’ decision and objected to it. We want to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. Celebrating strip clubs is not conduct consistent with that vision,” Cornette wrote.

The main reason for the outrage is that the Magic City institution is known as a strip club.

When the Hawks announced it, the event was meant to “celebrate the Magic City, the city’s iconic cultural institution” for the impact it has had on Atlanta’s culture. As a result, it remains to be seen how the discussion will play out now that the NBA has canceled the event, as the discussion has been polarizing.

On Sunday evening, the Milwaukee Bucks will take to home turf for a game against the Orlando Magic. The Bucks recently saw the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo from a lengthy calf injury, but he will not be in uniform on Sunday as he continues to recover from an injury. Here’s everything we know about Antetokounmpo’s injury status and his situation moving forward.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo’s state of play vs. the Magic

As previously mentioned, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be on the sidelines for Sunday’s Bucks game vs. the Magic, having been officially listed out due to right calf injury management. It remains to be seen whether resting Antetokounmpo due to injury management will be a routine for the Bucks as the regular season comes to an end. Their postseason hopes are currently on life support after last week’s loss against the Atlanta Hawks.

Joining Antetokounmpo on the injury report is Kyle Kuzma, who is questionable with a thoracic spine injury. Kevin Porter Jr. will be out with right knee synovitis, as will Taurean Prince with a neck injury.

For the Magic, Anthony Black is listed as questionable with a lower back sprain, while Jonathan Isaac is also questionable with a knee sprain. Jess Richardson is doubtful with lower back spasms, while Franz Wagner is out as he recovers from an ankle injury.

The Bucks surprised many with their decision to retain Antetokounmpo during last month’s NBA trade deadline. The star was sidelined with a calf injury at the time, and has played in three games since his return. It remains to be seen if they plan to keep Antetokounmpo long-term, or if they were waiting for better offers in the upcoming offseason.

In any case, the Bucks and Magic are scheduled to tip off on Sunday at 8:00 PM ET.

Chris Finch reveals what went wrong in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 119-92 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

Finch is in the sixth season of his head coaching career with the Timberwolves. He hopes to lead the franchise to its third consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance, while attempting to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in history.

However, they have to go through ups and downs in the regular season. According to reporter Dan Moore, their blowout loss to the Magic was an example of the latter, as Finch explained after the game why the team did not play up to its usual high standards.

Finch said, “I thought there was a massive effort. I thought there were a lot of gameplan breakdowns that really hurt us. They may have looked like lack of effort playing games, but I think they were more mental lapses than physical effort.”

Chris Finch was asked how much of the Wolves’ 27-point loss at home to Orlando today had to do with effort.

“I thought a fair amount of the effort was there. I just thought there were a lot of gameplan breakdowns that really hurt us. They may have looked like lack of effort plays, but they were… pic.twitter.com/dZua8QnHkl

– Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) 7 March 2026

Chris Finch, how the Timberwolves performed against the Magic

Chris Finch knows the Timberwolves are capable of beating the Magic. However, his performance on both sides of the ball left much to be desired all night.

Four players scored in double figures for Minnesota in the win. Anthony Edwards led the way with a stat line of 34 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. He made 8 of 18 shots from the field, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc, and 13 of 14 from the free-throw line. Julius Randle came next with 14 points and nine rebounds, Naz Reed had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Rudy Gobert provided 12 points and eight rebounds.

Minnesota fell to a 40–24 record on the season and finished fourth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, while trailing the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.

The Timberwolves will look to bounce back in their next game while on the road. They will face the Lakers as tip-off takes place on March 10 at 11 pm ET.

Crystal Palace midfielder Matheus França is approaching the final stages of his unsuccessful loan spell at Vasco da Gama. Brazilian media suggest that the next three months could be the last chance for either party to understand the move.

The 21-year-old joined the Rio club on loan until June in search of minutes and confidence after a difficult spell in England. However, his time spent in Brazil has had little impact on the pitch so far. França has played 21 matches for Vasco and is yet to register a goal or assist, and The fans wanted him gone.

The lack of impact became so noticeable that Vasco even considered terminating the loan early at one stage. brazilian report indicated that this possibility had been discussed internally after França lost his place in the team and struggled to influence matches.

In recent weeks, he had become a peripheral figure in the team, sometimes remaining on the bench when former manager Fernando Diniz rotated the starting eleven.

Renato Gaucho Connection

That situation has now taken an unexpected turn with the arrival of Renato Gacho as Vasco’s new manager, following the dismissal of Fernando Diniz.

According to Brazilian outlet RTI gameThe appointment of the coach could provide Franca with one last opportunity to rediscover his best football before the loan expires.

Renato already knows the player well from his time spent with him at Flamengo, where the midfielder first started to get closer to the senior team.

França made his professional debut in early 2021. However, during Renato Gacho’s spell the following season he began to spend more consistent time training with the first team.

He was only 17 years old at the time and had gone through a successful youth cycle that included Brazilian U17 titles.

last month to change the story

That development paved the way for Franca to have a breakout year in 2022. He finished the season with 23 appearances and six goals for Flamengo, performances which ultimately Crystal Palace persuaded to invest €20m (£17m) In attacking midfielder.

The move to England never progressed fully. Injuries limited his continuity and Palace sanctioned Vasco on loan in an attempt to rebuild rhythm and confidence in Brazil.

However, so far this plan has not worked. França’s output has been minimal, and his role in the team has fluctuated throughout the season.

With Renato Gaucho now in charge and only a few months remaining on the loan, the Brazilian media see this situation as the last window for the player to turn things around.

If that doesn’t happen soon, França is expected to return to Crystal Palace in June with the same doubts that surrounded him when the loan began.

The Dallas Mavericks visit the Orlando Magic on Thursday, looking to snap a four-game losing streak, and rookie star Cooper Flagg is listed as questionable on the injury report. Flagg has not played since the All-Star break due to a foot injury. Here’s everything we know about Cooper Flagg’s injury and his playing status heading into the Mavericks’ game against the Magic.

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Cooper Flagg’s injury status vs. Magic

On the Mavericks’ official injury report via the NBA, Cooper Flagg is still questionable to play Thursday. Flagg has missed nine consecutive games due to the aforementioned foot injury. However, according to longtime NBA insider Marc Stein, there is growing expectation that Flagg will return to the lineup against the Magic.

Stein originally reported that Dallas’ rookie sensation was going to be a game-time decision, but then updated his reporting to say that sources had confirmed that Flagg was going to return to the court.

Flagg, the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award, averaged 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals on 48.2 percent shooting from the field, 30.2 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 80.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

So when the question comes about whether or not Cooper Flagg is playing against the Magic tonight, the answer is probably yes.

mavericks injury report

-Marvin Bagley III out (neck sprain)
-Moussa Cisse doubtful (G League two-way)
-Cooper Flagg questionable (left foot sprain)
-Kyrie Irving out (left knee surgery)
-Derek Lively II out (right foot surgery)
-Nazi Marshal Potential (injured right finger)
-John Poulakidas questionable (G League two-way)
-Tyler Smith questionable (G League two-way)
-Klay Thompson Potential (right adductor fusion)
-Brandon Williams questionable (left quad contusion)

magical injury report

-Anthony Black doubtful (right quad contusion)
-Wendell Carter Jr. questionable (sore left ankle).
-Jonathan Isaac doubtful (left knee soreness)
-Franz Wagner out (injury management of left ankle sprain)

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg missed Tuesday’s 117-90 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, then received an encouraging injury update ahead of Wednesday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic. Flagg missed the last eight games with a foot injury, but was listed as questionable on the Mavericks’ injury report.

Flagg, who hasn’t played since the Mavericks’ 120-111 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 20, could make his return in Thursday’s game against the Magic. The Rookie of the Year candidate is averaging 20.4 points on 48.2% shooting, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game this season.

Jeff Teague of the Mavericks on Cooper Flag, Kon Knueppel of the Hornets

Former NBA guard Jeff Teague addressed the Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg’s candidacy for Rookie of the Year opposite Hornets rookie Kon Nueppel. Duke’s two prospects are the leading candidates for the award, and the race is close, as Knueppel has taken a slight lead as the likely favorite to win the award.

Flagg, who had led in rushing all season amid Cooper’s injury, and the Hornets’ five-game winning streak, was overtaken by Knueppel as Teague. Mentioned in their selection For Rookie of the Year, according to the Club 520 Podcast.

“If he is [Knueppel] Not Rookie of the Year, he was robbed. They [are] actually winning the game, that [is] Average 20 points.”

“He’s killing every game… If he’s not Player of the Year, he’s been robbed. They’re actually winning games, he’s averaging 20 points.”

Jeff Teague on Kon Knuppel 🗣️

(via @club520podcast)pic.twitter.com/B019SER50Z

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 25 February 2026

In only his first season, Flagg is averaging 20+ points while playing for the Hornets. Knueppel is averaging 19.2 points on 48.8% shooting, and his 43.5% 3-point clip leads the NBA, along with his 212 threes. The Hornets improved to 31–31, the ninth-best record in the Eastern Conference standings.

Flagg and the Mavericks, who have lost eight of their last 10 games, have the fourth-worst record (21-40) in the Western Conference.

Richard Jefferson took a stance on San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet by criticizing the Atlanta Hawks’ Magic City promotional night on March 16.

Cornette wrote a letter objecting to the Hawks hosting ‘Magic City’ Night. Jefferson agrees with Cornette, but for his own personal reasons, and mostly the way he wants to raise his children, he says, he wouldn’t want them to see them at NBA games.

“I’m going to take Luke Kornet’s side. Magic City, everyone has the ability to do whatever they choose. Spend their money how they want, but the NBA, the brand, the logo. Let’s just say, I think the NBA can partner with whoever they choose, but I understand what Luke Kornet is saying. Especially in a very delicate time. You talk about women’s rights, but also women’s rights to do that. Have potential,” Jefferson said at the 23:11 mark on the road. Trippin’ Podcast.

“To look at it and say, hey we want to do it, but there will be kids at the game. These are things that I love, I’m taking my kids, my nine and eleven-year-olds, this is not what I want to present to my kids, that’s just me.”

What’s next for the Hawks amid Luke Kornet’s comments?

Richard Jefferson and Luke Cornett Hawks may have their own reservations about the Magic City celebration. It’s time to realize what Atlanta can do for this event, but the recent attention will provide plenty of scrutiny before the competition takes place.

Atlanta has a 31–31 record on the season, tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are 0.5 games ahead of the Charlotte Hornets and four games behind the Milwaukee Bucks while trailing the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic by 1.5 games.

Coming off four consecutive wins, the Hawks will be looking forward to their next contest. They are on the road when they face the Bucks on March 4th at 9:30 PM ET.

As the San Antonio Spurs (43-17) prepare to conclude their five-game Eastern Conference road trip with a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers (33-27) on Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock, center Luke Cornette reiterated his criticism of the Atlanta Hawks’ association with the Magic City.

Cornette addressed the controversy while speaking with Jason Dumas of Action News on 6abc following Tuesday’s shooting. His comments come a day after he publicly objected to the Hawks’ planned “Magic City Night” promotion tied to their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic.

“I actually saw the statement just last week, the Hawks’ announcement and as far as the point that you have the public voice, I feel like it doesn’t really represent what I know about myself and a lot of others in the NBA. [players] thought. So, I just want to make sure that that part of the discussion is expressed and that it includes criticizing people and things like that – that’s part of the process that white people may be hesitant to do but I think really trying to start a conversation and be able to do that.

He continued:

“It’s important to help make sure everyone in the league is ready to be represented and has an environment like you want.”

Cornette’s renewed comments follow backlash after he first expressed concerns about the Hawks’ partnership. On Monday, he elaborated in a post on Medium, where he directly called on the organization to cancel the event.

Luke Cornette caused some stir nationally when he urged the Atlanta Hawks to cancel “Magic City Night”, saying it was disrespectful to women.

I asked him about it after the shooting in Philly. Says he has not spoken to the league since his statement. pic.twitter.com/eTwFuZGAGQ

-Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) 3 March 2026

“This week, the Atlanta Hawks announced a special one-night collaboration celebrating the city’s iconic cultural institution Magic City during the team’s home game against the Orlando Magic on Monday, March 16,” Cornett wrote. “In their press release, Hawks failed to acknowledge that this location is, as the business itself claims, ‘Atlanta’s premiere strip club.’ Given this fact, I would respectfully ask that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with the Magic City.

Luke Kornet says NBA, Hawks haven’t contacted him amid Magic City controversy

Asked whether the league moved forward after his initial statement, Cornette said:

“Not really after that. I talked to a few people in the league first, just to see what the status of it was, to make sure it was up to date on the situation.”

He said the Hawks have not contacted him.

“No, I didn’t.”

The Hawks’ collaboration has attracted widespread attention, including public support from former guard Lou Williams. While Atlanta has not indicated any changes to its plans, Cornette’s comments add another layer to the broader conversation surrounding the event.

San Antonio will now turn their attention back to the court as they prepare to face Philadelphia on Tuesday night, and look to bounce back from a 114-89 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Recently, San Antonio Spurs big man Luke Cornette made headlines when he took to his blog to speak out against the Atlanta Hawks’ recently announced partnership with adult entertainment venue Magic City for an upcoming game. Now, Golden State Warriors big man and Kornet’s former Boston Celtics teammate, Al Horford, has weighed in on the conversation.

“Luke is right,” Horford, formerly of the Ax, wrote on Twitter.

“The NBA must be willing to protect and respect women, many of whom work diligently every day to make it the best basketball league in the world,” Kornett wrote in his blog post. “We must foster an environment that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners we know and love.”

Horford was a member of the Atlanta Hawks when they hosted the Tinder “Swipe Right” during the 2015 season, which marked the beginning of a brand partnership for the team that many might not have expected from an NBA organization.

So far, there is no indication that the NBA or the Hawks will come forward and follow Kornet’s advice by discontinuing the promotion, which is scheduled for a home game against the Orlando Magic later this month.

The Hawks have advertised Magic City sweatshirts as part of the celebration, and ticket sales for the game skyrocketed as a result of the announcement.

Cornette’s blog post sparked a widespread discussion on social media about the adult entertainment industry as a whole and whether or not family-friendly organizations like the NBA should be associated with it.

Meanwhile, some have called on Cornette to raise the issue but not speak out about the NBA’s partnerships with gambling companies and other equally less savory organizations.

It remains to be seen whether anything will happen as a result of Cornette’s requests.

The Atlanta Hawks caused quite a surprise when they announced plans to host a Magic City themed promotion during one of their home games. Magic City is a famous strip club located in Atlanta that regularly attracts celebrity visitors. But not everyone is in favor of the Hawks’ promotion, including San Antonio Spurs big man Luke Kornet.

Luke Cornett, who runs a public online blog while playing for the Spurs, wrote a new post this week explaining his reasoning for why he thinks the Hawks should cancel their Magic City promotion night.

“This week, the Atlanta Hawks announced a special one-night-only collaboration to celebrate the city’s iconic cultural institution Magic City during the team’s home games against the Orlando Magic on Monday, March 16,” Cornett wrote. Given this fact, I would respectfully ask that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with the Magic City.

Cornette explained the potential dangers of working in such an industry, and suggested that the Magic City was not the type of family-friendly business the NBA should be promoting.

The Hawks’ Promotional Night is currently scheduled for March 16 during the team’s home game against the Orlando Magic. Ticket sales for the game have reportedly increased, and the team has already begun selling promotional merchandise.

While Cornette may be against the idea, there are others, like former NBA player Lou Williams, who expressed his support for the effort.

The Atlanta Hawks have officially begun selling their Magic City-inspired merchandise following a viral announcement that garnered national attention earlier this week.

After unveiling a surprise collaboration with the Magic City on Thursday, the Hawks listed their “Forever 404 Magic City Peachtree Hoodie” for sale on the team’s official website. The hoodie is priced at $125 and is currently available for pre-order, with two days left in the pre-sale window. The organization has also placed a limit of two hoodies per order.

The partnership was announced with the introduction of “Magic City Night”, a themed promotion tied to Atlanta’s March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic. The revelation spread quickly online on social media and caused a significant increase in demand for tickets, with reports indicating that average list prices increased immediately after the news broke.

Former Hawks guard Lou Williams publicly expressed his support for the collaboration during an appearance on FanDuel’s Run It Back on Friday. Williams, widely known by his nickname “Lemon Pepper Lou”, praised the franchise for embracing Atlanta culture and expressed approval of the partnership. His comments came after Thursday’s official announcement and heightened trading interest as the weekend pre-sale approaches.

The Atlanta Hawks are now selling the “Magic City Monday” hoodie for $125.

Wild times. pic.twitter.com/6vs5mr8nJ2

– Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) 28 February 2026

Hawks-Magic City collaboration brings a surge of merchandise

The collaboration has placed the Hawks at the center of a broader cultural conversation, encompassing basketball and one of Atlanta’s most recognizable nightlife institutions. The co-branded hoodie features the Hawks’ logo along with the Magic City name across the chest, aligning with the team’s “Forever 404” branding tied to the city’s area code.

On the court, Atlanta (30-31) is ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hawks picked up their third consecutive win on Thursday with a 126-96 win over the Washington Wizards and will host the Portland Trail Blazers (29-31) on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.

With merchandise now available for purchase and demand for tickets growing, the Hawks collaboration is building momentum beyond social media. The pre-sale launch Saturday marks the latest step in a rollout that grew from Thursday’s announcement to Friday’s player support and weekend merchandise push, as Atlanta prepares for its upcoming home expansion.

本周早些时候，亚特兰大老鹰队发布了引起全国关注的病毒式公告，并正式开始销售其受魔术之城启发的商品。

在周四公布了与 Magic City 的惊喜合作后，老鹰队在球队官网上架了“Forever 404 Magic City Peachtree Hoodie”的发售。这款连帽衫售价 125 美元，目前已开始接受预订，距离预售窗口还剩两天。该组织还规定每笔订单只能购买两件连帽衫。

该合作伙伴公告推出了“魔术之城之夜”主题促销活动，该活动与亚特兰大 3 月 16 日主场对阵奥兰多魔术队的比赛有关。这一消息在社交媒体上迅速在网上流传，导致门票需求大幅飙升，有报道称，消息传出后不久，平均票价飙升。

前老鹰队后卫卢·威廉姆斯周五在 FanDuel 的 Run It Back 节目中公开表达了他对此次合作的支持。威廉姆斯以“柠檬胡椒卢”而闻名，他称赞球队拥抱亚特兰大文化，并表示对此次合作的认可。他的评论是在周四正式宣布之后发表的，当时商品兴趣在周末预售前夕加剧。

亚特兰大老鹰队现以 125 美元的价格出售“Magic City Monday”连帽衫。

狂野的时代。 pic.twitter.com/6vs5mr8nJ2

— 军团篮球 (@LegionHoops) 2026 年 2 月 28 日

老鹰队与魔术城的合作推动商品激增

此次合作使老鹰队成为更广泛文化对话的中心，将篮球与亚特兰大最知名的夜生活机构之一融为一体。这款联名连帽衫的胸前印有 Magic City 的名字以及老鹰队的标志，与与该城市区号相关的球队“Forever 404”品牌保持一致。

在球场上，亚特兰大队（30胜31负）在东部联盟积分榜上排名第九。老鹰队周四以 126-96 击败华盛顿奇才队，取得三连胜，并将于美国东部时间周日下午 6 点主场迎战波特兰开拓者队 (29-31)。

随着商品现已可供购买和门票需求不断上升，老鹰队的合作继续在社交媒体之外产生动力。周六的预售启动标志着从周四的公告到周五的玩家支持以及周末的商品推广的推出的最新一步，亚特兰大正在为即将到来的冲刺做准备。

The Atlanta Hawks experienced a sharp increase in ticket prices after announcing their upcoming “Magic City Night” promotion in collaboration with Magic City.

According to Yahoo Sports, the average list price for the Hawks’ March 16 home game increased nearly 300 percent after the team announced the partnership on social media.

Yahoo Sports shared on X, formerly known as Twitter:

“The Hawks and Magic City are teaming up for the ultimate collaboration

Average list price increased 300% after team’s social media announcement”

The promotion, called “Magic City Night”, is scheduled for the time when Atlanta hosts the Orlando Magic. The franchise also unveiled co-branded merchandise, including a hoodie with the Hawks’ logo emblazoned with the Magic City name on the chest. The collaboration quickly generated national buzz and was widely discussed on social media platforms.

The Hawks and Magic City are teaming up for the ultimate collaboration

Average list price increased 300% after team’s social media announcement pic.twitter.com/Xr6xxOdkit

– Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) 27 February 2026

Former Hawks guard Lou Williams – widely known by his nickname “Lemon Pepper Lou” – publicly expressed his support for the partnership during an appearance on FanDuel’s Run It Back. Williams, who previously played in Atlanta and has a long association with the Magic City, called the collaboration an authentic reflection of the city’s culture.

His association with the venue dates back to 2020, when his “Lemon Pepper Lou” nickname was popularized due to a visit to the Magic City during the NBA’s Orlando Bubble due to quarantine protocols and referencing the club’s signature wings. Williams later adopted this nickname as part of his personal brand.

Atlanta (30-31) is currently ninth in the Eastern Conference standings and entering the promotion with a three-game winning streak. Whether driven by curiosity, cultural significance or social media momentum, the Hawks’ announcement has translated into immediate market impact, with ticket demand soaring in the wake of the Magic City collaboration.

The Atlanta Hawks’ unexpected collaboration with the Magic City garnered national attention this week, and former NBA guard Lou Williams fully supports the partnership.

Williams spoke during Friday’s episode of Run It Back and called the partnership a real celebration of Atlanta culture.

“We’re working on some details, but I’m in full support of it. Shout out to my good people and my relationships in the Magic. I love that Atlanta is embracing some of our culture in the city. It’s a nice link… I know a lot of people won’t understand it. A lot of people don’t understand it, but I’m glad it’s going global because now you all understand me. That’s what we do in Atlanta. I know some of these. Y’all’s imaginations.” Wild, but that’s what we do in the city. So shout out to my good people at Magic. I love seeing them come together and see them on this stage.

The Hawks unveiled the collaboration on Thursday, revealing “Magic City Monday”, a themed promotion tied to their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with the broadcast set for NBCSN and Peacock. The team also revealed a co-branded hoodie featuring the Magic City name across the chest next to the Hawks’ logo.

“I’m glad it’s going global because now you all understand me. …I know you all have imaginations running wild.”

Lou Williams on the Hawks are paying homage to Atlanta’s famous strip club ‘Magic City’ when they host Orlando next month.

(via @RunItBackFDTV)pic.twitter.com/OGPxM2OHyR

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 27 February 2026

‘Lemon Pepper Lou’ legacy resurfaces as Hawks lean toward Atlanta culture

The pairing has attracted additional attention due to Williams’ own history with the club. He earned the nickname “Lemon Pepper Lou” after a widely publicized incident during the NBA’s 2020 COVID-19 bubble in Orlando, when he left the restricted environment to visit the Magic City and was photographed with rapper Jack Harlow before returning. The league imposed a quarantine on Williams, costing him his time with the Los Angeles Clippers at the time, and fans began referring to him by the nickname tied to the club’s signature Lemon Pepper Wings. Williams later adopted the phrase, even securing a trademark on “Lemon Pepper Lou” as part of his personal brand.

On the court this season, Atlanta (30-31) is ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hawks picked up their third consecutive win on Thursday with a 126-96 win over the Washington Wizards and will look to continue their momentum when they host the Portland Trail Blazers (29-31) on Sunday at 6 pm ET.

Whether celebrated or criticized, the Hawks’ partnership with the Magic City has thrust a local cultural touchstone into the national spotlight, with Williams emphasizing that the move reflects something authentic about Atlanta.

The Houston Rockets defeated the Orlando Magic in a hard-fought game, 113-108, at the Kia Center on Thursday. However, the victory may have been costly, as Jabari Smith Jr. left the game in the final minutes with an ankle injury.

Smith finished with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 29 minutes.

In a video posted on X, the 22-year-old forward remained on the floor for a few seconds before getting up and limping on the bench.

It didn’t look good as Jabari Smith Jr. fell to the ground and they immediately grabbed his right ankle. #rockets #sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/lc5oOCtLRO

– Big Sarge Media LLC (@BigSargeSportz) 27 February 2026

Although it was a good sign that Smith was able to walk on his own, it was still likely that he suffered a serious injury.

The Rockets cannot afford to lose him long-term, as he has been a vital part of the machine. Smith, who is on a contract year, has proven to be a reliable two-way player with his length, agility and athleticism. Despite his flexible physique, Smith is not afraid to get physical. He has also improved his outside shooting.

His frontcourt trio with Kevin Durant and Alpern Sengun is one of the most lethal in the NBA, with Smith serving as the ideal complement to his All-Star teammates.

With the win, the Rockets improved to 37–21. Durant led the way with 40 points and eight rebounds in the game. Sengun added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Reed Shepard also performed with 20 points, including five three-pointers, three rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks off the bench.

The Rockets won their third consecutive game and will look to follow it up on Saturday against the Miami Heat.

The Atlanta Hawks got an injection of energy earlier this week when Jonathan Kuminga made his debut for the team and scored 27 points in a blowout win over the Washington Wizards. This was an interesting development for a Hawks team that is looking for anything to get excited about during a disappointing season.

Perhaps in an effort to increase the intrigue, on Thursday, the Hawks, in partnership with the famous local strip club, Magic City, announced a “Magic City Monday” night for the upcoming home game against the Orlando Magic.

As part of the promotion, the Hawks marketed a sweatshirt with the Magic City name on the front.

Magic on Monday? 👀 @Magic City pic.twitter.com/xwWrGyVE20

– Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) 26 February 2026

Needless to say, fans were losing it in the comments section on X, which was formerly Twitter.

“Our pockets are empty and I love it,” one fan wrote with a laughing emoji.

“An NBA team collaborating with a strip club. I’ve seen it all,” added another.

“James Harden has requested another trade,” another joked, noting the Cleveland Cavaliers guard’s well-documented affinity for nightly entertainment.

The Hawks have never been shy about securing partnerships with companies whose fans don’t necessarily associate with NBA teams, including hosting a Tinder “Swipe Right” night several years ago, allowing fans to matchmake in real time at games, along with other promotions.

At some point, Atlanta will have to hope that the product on the court will be enough to generate interest in the team. Currently, Atlanta sits two games under the .500 mark, on pace to finish in the play-in tournament for an astonishing fifth straight season.

However, the addition of Kuminga could give the Hawks another potential building block moving forward, and the emergence of Jalen Johnson this season is worth watching.

In any case, the Hawks will take the field next Thursday at 7:30 pm ET for a home game against the Washington Wizards.

The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t been very inspiring in terms of being legitimate title contenders this season, as their defense has been so bad for so long that it’s hard to believe they can field a defense that’s good enough to compete, especially in the loaded West. But they have been excellent in clutch games and they have been good at maintaining leads, which is why they remain in the top six in the West standings despite concerns about the underlying numbers.

However, on Tuesday night, the Lakers failed at the things they should have been good at. They were ahead after three quarters in their contest against the Orlando Magic (80–79 after three), and they were in the midst of a clutch game against a Mideastern Conference team. They somehow lost, as a combination of late-game hesitation and late-game defensive issues doomed the Lakers.

According to X user @dmai21, the Purple and Gold have now lost their first game this season after the Magic broke the Lakers’ hearts 110-109 courtesy of Wendell Carter Jr.’s game-winner after leading after three quarters. They won their first 25 such games this season, but now, the Magic have dealt them a devastating blow.

Lakers’ defensive issues come to the fore in tough times

Luka Doncic suffered a tough shooting night, but began to bounce back toward the end of the game. It looked like he was going to take over the game, but instead, he hesitated to take the last shot, which put LeBron James in such a difficult situation with the clock running out – leading to the Lakers’ loss.

But it is LA’s defense that is to blame for their latest defeat. They allowed the Magic to score 58 points in the paint, with Paolo Banchero repeatedly driving to the basket. The game-winner he allowed came due to his inability to control the defensive boards.

The Lakers are going to have to do some soul-searching if they want to figure it out this season.

The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled a lot on the defensive end this season, but from time to time they show flashes of greatness on that end of the floor. On Tuesday night, LeBron James once again showed that age is just a number, as he soared to the sky to deny an easy layup in transition from Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black.

The game began with a James turnover, as his pass to Austin Reaves was deflected by the Magic guard. Black then took the ball in transition where he is usually prolific, and it looked as if he only had Reeves to beat. Reaves did enough to distract Black, giving the Lakers star enough time to look behind and to the sky for an epic chase-down block. he is made His signature move.

Blocks were chased by LeBron James and Marcus Smart! pic.twitter.com/ZmYneUTgfg

– Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) 25 February 2026

However, it was troublesome when the Magic had three players to the Lakers’ two – with Paolo Banchero rebounding Black’s blocked shot. But then the Lakers retreated to defend the fastbreak, and Marcus Smart made a timely attempt to deny the Magic a field goal by deflecting Banchero’s attempt.

The sad part was that the Lakers couldn’t take advantage of these incredible defensive plays, as James proceeded to turn the ball over again on the ensuing possession.

LeBron James sets the tone for Lakers vs. Magic

James came out of the gate facing the Magic on Tuesday night with a fire in his eyes; Currently, James has 12 points in 14 minutes of play, leading up to his epic block of Black early in the second quarter.

The Lakers star has been slowing down lately, but perhaps with the battle for position in the West being so heated he is speeding up again.

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard earned high praise from an Orlando Magic player after Sunday night’s 111-109 loss, with Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. calling him “the best player in this league.”

Leonard put in a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 37 points with eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in 33 minutes. He shot 14 of 25 from the field, 2 of 7 from 3-point range, and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line.

After the game, Carter reflected on the challenge of defending Leonard.

“Kawhi, especially lately, is probably the best player in this league. Again, he gets his spots whenever he wants. Very calm, very collective. He never feels like he’s rushed or sharp at all. Very strong defensively, guards, most guys on the court. So he’s one of those guys you try to block throughout the game, make it tough, make everybody tough for him and then late in the game as we “Try to take the ball out of his hands, force someone else to beat us. So I think we did a really good job in that period and it was definitely something we can learn from going forward.”

Wendell Carter Jr. called Kawhi Leonard “the best player in the league”

“Kawhi, especially lately, is probably the best player in this league. He finds his spots when he wants to… He never feels rushed or rushed.” pic.twitter.com/cpxRg2ggPM

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 23 February 2026

Leonard consistently controlled the pace, scoring from his favorite midrange spot and attacking mismatches without rushing. Despite Orlando’s late-game adjustments, the two-time Finals MVP repeatedly created separation and forced defensive turnovers.

Clippers fall short despite Kawhi Leonard’s 37-point performance vs. Magic

As Carter said, the Magic changed their tactics at the last minute and tried to take the ball out of Leonard’s hands. On the Clippers’ final possession, Leonard completed a pass to Benedict Mathurin for a potential game-winning 3-pointer. The shot hit the rim and went wide, setting up Los Angeles’ second consecutive loss and leaving the Clippers down 27–30.

Mathurin contributed 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists off the bench. He shot 7 of 16 from the field, 1 of 5 from beyond the arc and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line in 30 minutes.

For Leonard, the performance continued what has been one of the most productive scoring seasons of his career. In his sixth season with the Los Angeles Clippers, the 34-year-old has averaged 28 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and two steals per game in 44 appearances. He is shooting 49.4% from the field, 38.1% from 3-point range and a career-high 90.5% from the free-throw line, while logging 32.8 minutes per contest.

Orlando improved to 30–26 with the narrow win, concluding the second night of a back-to-back on a four-game Western Conference road trip. Carter finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes, helping solidify the interior while the Magic weathered Leonard’s scoring bursts.

The Clippers will try to bounce back on Thursday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves (35-25) at 7:00 PM ET on Prime Video as part of a three-game homestand.

The Orlando Magic continue their road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers (34-22) on Tuesday at 7:30 pm PT, keeping the momentum going after enduring a 37-point outing from Leonard.

The Orlando Magic (29-26) listed Jalen Suggs as questionable due to back spasms ahead of Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers (27-29). The game will begin at 9:00 PM ET on NBA TV and will be the second night of a back-to-back for Orlando.

Suggs was ruled out before Saturday’s 113-110 double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns. The 24-year-old guard last appeared in the Magic’s 131-94 win over the Sacramento Kings coming out of the All-Star break and starting their four-game road trip. In that contest, Suggs recorded nine points, three rebounds, three assists and one block while shooting 3-for-8 from the field and 3-for-7 from 3-point range in 20 minutes.

On the season, Suggs has averaged 13.9 points, 5.4 assists, four rebounds and a career-high 1.9 steals per game in 34 appearances. The former All-Defensive Second Team selection is shooting 44.2% from the field and 32.8% from beyond the arc while playing 26.5 minutes per contest.

The Magic’s injury report lists Franz Wagner out under injury management with a high ankle sprain. The team has indicated that Wagner will be reevaluated in three weeks.

Magic, Clippers deal with key injuries ahead of matchup

Orlando is entering Sunday’s contest intent on responding after its narrow loss in Phoenix, where the Magic forced the Suns into double overtime despite missing key contributors.

The Clippers are also managing injuries. John Collins has been listed out with a head injury and neck pain. Kawhi Leonard is questionable with a sore left ankle after Friday’s 125-122 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Additionally, Darius Garland – who was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline in exchange for James Harden – is out with left foot injury management as he recovers from a surgically repaired toe injury.

With both teams managing key absences, availability could prove crucial in the Magic’s effort to extend their 29-26 start as they continue their road trip.

The Phoenix Suns prevailed 113-110 at home against the Orlando Magic on Saturday after Jalen Green’s game-winner at the buzzer in overtime. With the score tied at 110 and the Suns in possession, Green caught an inbounds pass on the move from Royce O’Neale, firing a sharp shot from the corner that found the bottom of the net.

Jalen Green’s game-winner at the buzzer snapped a two-game losing streak for the Suns, which went back to before the All-Star break. He finished with 19 points, five rebounds, six assists and one steal in 37 minutes of play. He did not have the most efficient night, shooting only 6 of 26 from the field, including 2 of 11 from the 3-point line. But his last shot in OT was the biggest.

After missing 41 of the Suns’ first 43 games due to a hamstring injury, Green returned to the lineup in late January. However, he was still troubled by injury problems and played in only five of the Suns’ games just before the All-Star break.

In the Suns’ first game after the break last Thursday, Green returned to the starting lineup and played a little more than 26 minutes in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He had 26 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals in that game.

With Green not seeing a majority of play in the first half of the regular season, his return to the Suns rotation was almost like a trade deadline acquisition in itself.

Coming into Saturday’s game, Green had appeared in eight games for the Suns at a rate of just over 16 minutes per game. He averaged 13.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists with splits of 42.7 percent shooting from the field, 37 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 84.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

PHOENIX – Jalen Green hit the game-winner for the Phoenix Suns in a 113-110 double overtime win against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, turning a perhaps forgettable performance into an unforgettable one.

Despite hitting 6 of 26 shots from the field, his final performance was the most important. A fadeaway corner 3-pointer that sealed the win.

Teammates rushed him, shit broke out in the Mortgage Matchup Center, and what could have been disappointment for the Phoenix faithful turned into pure glee.

When Green walked into the press conference room, he was surprised that it was his first NBA game-winner. But winning the game may not have been the only thing on his mind as he prepared to take the final shot.

At that point, it’s double OT, we were just trying to get home,” Green joked. “But like I said, my teammates, my coaches kept talking to me all night. Just keep shooting. It doesn’t matter what the last shot is.”

When I asked Jalen Green why he didn’t think too much about taking that last shot on a tough night of shooting, he joked.

“At that point, it’s double OT, we’re just trying to get home.”

Continued: “But like I said, my teammates, my coaches talked to me all night long. It’s just… pic.twitter.com/Lxw0JF4Qs4

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 22 February 2026

Originally, the play was designed for Colin Gillespie. However, head coach Jordan Ott said Green had told Royce O’Neale to look for him if there was room.

It’s safe to say there was, and the rest is history. As mentioned earlier, he took 26 shots, but most of them were his normal looks. Despite Green’s obvious frustration, he continued taking his usual shots.

Every single property being promoted is something that can never be taken for granted. There must have been a good portion of game-winners in it.

Jalen Green’s game-winner shows irreplaceable impact for Suns

With Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin sidelined Saturday, someone had to step up. Green wasted no time in taking matters into his own hands.

Early in the game, he seemed to settle for perimeter shots. However, as the game progressed, he attacked the paint more often and opened up shooting pockets for his teammates.

One thing remained the same: He was getting to his spots and attempting the shots he always does. Although some fans were not happy, his shot-making is what makes him stand above the rest.

“I think it’s pretty normal when you miss that many games,” head coach Jordan Ott said when asked about Green’s streak and game-winner.

“You’re not able to practice, not be able to get into much rhythm … but what’s hard is to go through that and then hit a shot like that. He’s an unbelievable shot maker, unbelievable scorer. That’s what those guys do.”

Jordan Ott said @Amanda_Pflugrad That he still has full confidence in Jalen Green after tonight’s performance.

“I think it’s very normal when you miss so many games. You don’t get to practice, get a lot of rhythm… but what’s hard is to go through that and… pic.twitter.com/p1rUPFRA7v

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 22 February 2026

His irreplaceable influence grew even more on Saturday. He could see his minutes reduced or he might not play at all if the Suns play in back-to-back contests on Sunday.

Despite this, he would likely sink his first game-winner within moments.

PHOENIX – Another name could be added to the Phoenix Suns’ injury report during the first quarter of Saturday’s game against the Orlando Magic. Dillon Brooks got hurt and went back to the locker room.

He was seen grabbing a handful of objects with his left hand, especially after shooting the ball. Before leaving the game, he had five points and three rebounds on 2-7 shooting from the field.

With Brooks missing the last Suns game due to a league-mandated one-game suspension, many were eager to see him on the court. Even Brooks himself seemed excited to be there.

Needless to say, he has only missed seven games this season. Health is money at this stage of the season and losing it would be a big loss.

We will update this story with more details.

In their second game of the post-All-Star break road trip, the Orlando Magic will travel west to face the Phoenix Suns on Saturday afternoon. Despite the weeklong break, both teams are still dealing with some injuries, most notably to guards Jalen Suggs and Grayson Allen, who are both listed as questionable. Here’s everything we know about the injuries to Jalen Suggs and Grayson Allen and their playing status on Saturday.

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Jalen Suggs’ injury status vs. Suns

Suggs has missed 20 of the Magic’s first 54 games this season and is in danger of missing another game. The 24-year-old has not missed a game since January 22, but is listed as doubtful against the Suns after battling back spasms.

Suggs has often been listed on Orlando’s injury report as a precaution since returning to the court. The back spasms are often minor, which suggests he will be on the court Saturday afternoon.

The Magic are already shorthanded after Franz Wagner suffered a setback in his recovery from injury, forcing Anthony Black into the starting lineup. Losing Suggs will leave Jamahl Mosley without his best on-ball defender, potentially giving up-and-coming Javon Carter a head start.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Suggs take the second seat, considering he’s already missed nearly half of the season, and the Magic have been hit hard by injury. But given the nature of his injury and the current situation in Orlando, he is expected to play.

Grayson Allen’s injury status vs. Magic

Unlike Suggs, Allen has not played in more than two weeks. His last game was on February 5 against the Golden State Warriors, when his foot dropped awkwardly at the end of the game. Allen survived a major injury, but surprisingly he has been out of commission ever since.

Allen remained out after the All-Star break and did not appear in the Suns’ game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. The team initially reported it would re-evaluate Allen after the break, but it appears nothing has changed.

However, him being listed as questionable is a step in the right direction, suggesting a return could be coming soon. If he is able to bounce back against the Magic, it will almost be a miracle that he only missed four games due to the scary injury.

With Devin Booker also out, Phoenix was forced to make do without its starting backcourt, forcing Jordan Ott to turn to Jalen Green, who is coming off a 26-point game against the Spurs. Green is starting with Colin Gillespie, who, barring a miraculous return of Allen, will likely be the backcourt tandem on Saturday against the Magic.

magical injury report

Colin Castleton – Out, G League

Alex Morales – Out, G League

Jalen Suggs – Questionable, back spasms

Franz Wagner – out, left ankle sprain injury management

sans injury report

Grayson Allen – Questionable, right ankle sprain

Cole Anthony – Out, not with team

Devin Booker – out, right hip strain

Haywood Highsmith – out, managing right knee injury.

The NBA is getting ready for the homestretch of the season, restarting the season following the end of NBA All-Star Weekend. Thursday night was the restart of the season, and the night’s game was an Eastern Conference showdown between the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks. The Pistons won 126–111, thanks to Cade Cunningham, but it strengthened the argument that these were the two best teams in the East.

NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson has been known to make some big moves on social media during the NBA season since leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. He spoke after watching the game on Thursday Pistons and Knicks picked to reach Eastern Conference Finals, but worth keeping an eye on The Cavaliers, 76ers, and even the Celtics.

After the game, Johnson praised the Pistons’ performance, especially that of point guard Cade Cunningham after he took over and led Detroit to a big win.

Johnson said, “NBA fans around the world, I hope you didn’t see Detroit Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham’s performance last night against the New York Knicks. He had a spectacular performance, scoring 42 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds! Cade scored from everywhere on the court – the three-pointer, the midrange jumper, and he was taking it to the basket. When he dunked on the three he may have had the best game of the year. Hits with the left hand!”

New York had some moments, with Jalen Brunson scoring 30 and Karl-Anthony Towns adding 21 points and 11 boards, but the Knicks struggled from three-point range and couldn’t get enough stops on defense to really swing momentum. Detroit consistently created separation, extended the advantage into the high teens late in the game and never allowed it to get into danger.

Johnson’s confidence in the Knicks and Pistons stems from the fact that both teams have been the most consistent in the Eastern Conference. There’s a lot to like about teams like the Cavaliers, 76ers and Celtics, but the consistency of those top two is what sets them apart and is a significant difference.