NBA

Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks

· National Basketball Association
1-1, 0-1 Away
Final
99 - 103

2-0, 1-0 Home

Trae Young scores 39 points, Hawks edge Magic, 103-99

He knows he's expected to be Atlanta's big-time player.

Young scored 39 points, including Atlanta's last eight, to continue his hot start and the Hawks beat the Orlando Magic 103-99 on Saturday night.

When asked how he flourished in the final minutes, Young said: "That's what makes big-time players what they are. They step up in big moments."

Young, who had 38 points in Atlanta's season-opening win at Detroit, again carried the scoring burden for the Hawks. Atlanta had no other player with more than 10 points.

The second-year point guard added nine assists and seven rebounds.

Young took over the game after Orlando led 96-95. His baseline reverse layup gave the Hawk the lead. Following a tying free throw by Aaron Gordon, Young's layup again gave the lead back to the Hawks.

Young added a long, fallaway 3-pointer, stretching the advantage to 102-97 with 25 seconds remaining. He celebrated with a shimmy strut toward the other end of the court.

"He's clutch, man," Hawks forward John Collins said. "He just has that clutch gene. Guys like him take the shots down the stretch and just expect them to go in."

The Magic couldn't find a way to stop Young.

"I tried to stay in front and make him shoot over top of me," said Markelle Fultz. "He shot it. Just got to slap him on the butt and say, `Good shot."

Young's 38 points against Detroit were the most in a season opener since Dominique Wilkins' 39 against the Nets in 1986. Young led NBA rookies with nine 30-point games last season, and now he already has two.

"Whatever it takes," Young said. "I'm just glad we're winning."

In a matchup of 21-year-old point guards, Young had 17 first-half points. Fultz finished with 12 points.

Evan Fournier led Orlando with 23 points. Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 10 rebounds. D.J. Augustin had 14.

While Young sank 5 of 10 3-pointers, Orlando made only 5 of 31.

"You can't win an NBA game shooting 17% from the 3," Magic coach Steve Clifford said. The actual figure was 16.1%.

"We're all pros," Gordon said. "We got to make those shots."

Atlanta led 85-84 before Augustin's four free throws and Michael Carter-Williams' powerful jam gave Orlando a 90-85 advantage.

Atlanta twice pulled even on shots by Young. His long 3-pointer tied the game at 90, and his jumper knotted the score at 94-all.

Jabari Parker and Kevin Huerter each had 10 points for Atlanta.

YOUTH IS SERVED

The Hawks' youth doesn't end with Young. Atlanta's other starters were 20-year-old Cam Reddish, 21-year-old De'Andre Hunter, 22-year-old Collins and 26-year-old Alex Len. Reddish and Hunter, the team's first-round draft picks, each had six points. Collins had nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

FREE FOR ALL

The Hawks overcame a lopsided disadvantage at the free-throw line. The Magic made 24 of 26 free throws. The Hawks were only 8 of 15 from the line.

TIP-INS

Magic: Orlando opened a string of five games in eight days. The stretch ends with home games against the Knicks, Milwaukee and Denver next week.

Hawks: Rookie F Bruno Fernando left the game in the third period with a right ankle sprain. He was helped off the court. ... Huerter, who missed all five preseason games with right knee soreness, saw his playing time expand. He was limited to 15 minutes in the opener at Detroit and had 10 points and four assists in 20 minutes.

UP NEXT

Magic: At Toronto on Monday night.

Hawks: Host Philadelphia on Monday night.

---

Regular Season Series

ATL leads series 1-0

Recent Plays

4th 0.0 End of Game 99 - 103
4th 0.0 End of the 4th Quarter 99 - 103
4th 0.8 Magic offensive team rebound 99 - 103
4th 0.8 Evan Fournier misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot 99 - 103
4th 3.5 Nikola Vucevic enters the game for Michael Carter-Williams 99 - 103

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/orl.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originORL https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/atl.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originATL
35-99 FG 43-84
35 Field Goal % 51
5-31 3PT 9-30
16 Three Point % 30
24-26 FT 8-15
92 Free Throw % 53
55 Rebounds 59
17 Offensive Rebounds 9
29 Defensive Rebounds 43
15 Assists 22
8 Steals 5
7 Blocks 9
10 Turnovers 18
0 Team Turnovers 0
10 Total Turnovers 18
0 Technical Fouls 0
0 Total Technical Fouls 0
0 Flagrant Fouls 0
10 Points Conceded Off Turnovers 19
8 Fast Break Points 14
50 Points in Paint 60
15 Fouls 26
5 Largest Lead 9
Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Hawks Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Keshon Gilbert, G Out Apr 22
Jock Landale, C Out Apr 16
Orlando Magic Orlando Magic Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Jonathan Isaac, F Out May 3
Franz Wagner, F Out May 2

Game Information

State Farm Arena

Location: Atlanta, GA
Attendance: 17,078 · Capacity:

2025-26 Southeast Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Atlanta 46 36 .561 - L1
Orlando 45 37 .549 1 L1
Charlotte 44 38 .537 2 W1
Miami 43 39 .524 3 W2
Washington 17 65 .207 29 L10
Full Standings

NBA News

A thank-you letter to Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player

A thank-you letter to Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player

Jason Collins, who died Tuesday, leaves a remarkable legacy as the NBA's first openly gay active player.

Scripps Sports signs local broadcast agreement with Detroit Pistons

Scripps Sports signs local broadcast agreement with Detroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons games will be available on local television next season for the first time since 2005 as part of a multiyear deal with Scripps Sports.

Sources: Optimism Knicks' OG Anunoby returns for start of ECF

Sources: Optimism Knicks' OG Anunoby returns for start of ECF

There is growing optimism that Knicks forward OG Anunoby will return from his hamstring injury by the start of the Eastern Conference Finals, sources tell ESPN's Shams Charania.

Peterson details goals going from college to the NBA

Peterson details goals going from college to the NBA

Darryn Peterson speaks to the media at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine.

Dybantsa says he's the most versatile player in the draft

Dybantsa says he's the most versatile player in the draft

AJ Dybantsa makes his case to be the No. 1 overall pick, while discussing what he knows about Washington DC.