The NBA regular season is drawing to a close, and fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the Playoffs, where teams will attempt to dethrone the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics. As part of this journey, the Orlando Magic are set to face the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Play-In Tournament—an innovative format introduced in the 2019–20 season to enhance postseason competition.
Designed to bring added excitement to the final stretch of the season, the Play-In serves as a mini-tournament to determine the last two playoff spots in each conference.
The NBA teams that finish the regular season in 7th through 10th place participate in this phase, with the Eastern Conference field featuring the Orlando Magic (7th), Atlanta Hawks (8th), Chicago Bulls (9th), and Miami Heat (10th).
What happens if the Orlando Magic lose to the Atlanta Hawks?
If the Magic fall to the Hawks, their playoff hopes won’t end there. As the 7th seed, Orlando would still have one more opportunity to qualify for the postseason. They would move on to face the winner of the 9 vs. 10 game between the Bulls and the Heat. The victor of that matchup would then secure the 8th and final seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
Anthony Black #0 of the Orlando Magic drives against Terance Mann #14 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
What happens if the Orlando Magic beat the Atlanta Hawks?
Should the Magic defeat the Hawks in their Play-In matchup, they would automatically secure the 7th seed and advance directly to the first round of the Playoffs. There, they would meet the top-seeded Boston Celtics in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown.
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What happens if the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks tie?
If the game is tied at the end of regulation, it will proceed to a five-minute overtime period to determine the winner. If necessary, additional overtimes will be played until one team comes out on top. The result will be crucial in deciding whether the Magic move forward immediately or must fight for survival in a second NBA Play-In contest.
