International Game in Mexico
The first international game of the NBA this season takes place in the Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks will face each other.
Both teams have made a positive start to the new season. They each have four wins and three defeats. Another parallel is the botched dress rehearsal for the game in Mexico. The Hawks recently lost in Oklahoma and the men from the Amway Center were beaten by the Dallas Mavericks in front of their own fans.
Orlando Magic – statistics & current form
The franchise from Florida has a lot to like about Franz Wagner. The German has been playing with a noticeable momentum from winning the World Cup in the summer. One example was the penultimate game against the Lakers, when he delivered the best haul for coach Jamal Mosley’s team with 26 points.
The two-time Eastern Conference winners also have a first pick in their ranks in Paolo Banchero. In 2022, the 20-year-old was the first player picked in that year’s draft and was immediately named “Rookie of the Year” last season.
After initial difficulties in the new season, he has now stabilized. While he averaged just 12.5 points in four games for the Southeast Division side in October, he has scored an impressive 25.7 points this month.
Is Banchero’s upswing continuing?
In addition, he delivered his first double-double of the season in the penultimate game against the Lakers thanks to a double-digit haul in points and assists. He also achieved the latter feat in assists for the first time in his career! Given his improving form, betting on him to score more than 21.5 points in the clash between Orlando and Atlanta is also worth considering
Atlanta Hawks – Statistics & current form
The Hawks have been knocked out in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. However, things are currently going better for the team from State Farm Arena. Although they lost their last game against OKC, as described above, their record is still just positive (4-3).
One plus point for the team from Georgia is its broad-based offense. In the win against the Pels on the penultimate matchday, no fewer than seven Hawks players scored in double figures.
Of course, Trae Young is still the offensive linchpin in coach Quin Snyder’s team and is already back in second place in the NBA in assists. However, the forward play is not too strongly tailored to him at the moment.
What’s more, Jalen Johnson has been strong under the boards so far this season. While he averaged four rebounds per game last season, he has a whopping 8.9 boards per game in the current edition of the NBA!
Murray doesn’t like to travel
On the other hand, Dejounte Murray has room for improvement. At least when the shooting guard isn’t playing in front of his own fans.
While he scores almost 28 points in home games, he only scores 19 points in away games. Against this backdrop, the prediction of fewer than 21.5 points by the 27-year-old for the 1958 champions in the clash between the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks is also a good one.
Orlando Magic – Atlanta Hawks head-to-head comparison / H2H record
The last time the teams faced each other was in Atlanta in December last year. The game was a real nailbiter and ended with a maximum score of 126:125 in favor of the Hawks. On the other hand, this is not a new pattern in this pairing: Orlando has only won two of the last twelve duels against Atlanta!
Orlando Magic – Atlanta Hawks betting tip
For the game in the Mexican capital of Orlando against Atlanta, the betting tip is aimed at a victory for the men around Trae Young. The Hawks have a better squad across the board and impress above all with a very reliable offense
Only Boston and Indiana score more points per game in the NBA. Last but not least, Atlanta is the upcoming opponent: the Hawks have won ten of the past twelve duels.
