Daniels helps Hawks bury Magic for third straight win

• Dyson Daniels had an all-round performance for Atlanta with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals
• Dante Exum recorded his highest assists total for the season with six despite an overtime loss for the Mavericks
• Joe Ingles played 15 minutes for Minnesota as they were crushed by Cleveland

Australian guard Dyson Daniels has once again recorded an impressive stat line as the Atlanta Hawks overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to secure a crucial 112-106 victory against the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center.

Daniels continued his red-hot form this season contributing across the board with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Hawks, who won their third straight game.

The Magic appeared to be in control early, taking a 57-50 lead into the break but the Hawks' explosive third quarter turned the tide.

Atlanta's game-changing surge came in the third period, where they outscored Orlando 33-25 in a run which was instrumental in erasing the Magic's advantage and setting the stage for a tense final quarter. The Hawks' offensive efficiency in the second half was remarkable, with the team shooting 49.4% from the field for the game.

Atlanta maintain momentum in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Magic 29-24 to seal the victory.

Caris LeVert's performance was crucial for Atlanta, as he contributed 18 points and eight rebounds off the bench. His efficiency from three-point range (3-from-7) provided much-needed spacing for the Hawks' offense. Trae Young, despite an off-night shooting, still managed to impact the game significantly with 19 points and eight assists.

For Orlando, Franz Wagner's career-high 37 points on an efficient 15-from-29 shooting was the standout individual performance of the night. Wagner's scoring kept the Magic competitive throughout the game but it ultimately wasn't enough to secure the win. Paolo Banchero also had a strong showing with 31 points and six rebounds, but the lack of production from Orlando's supporting cast proved costly.

The Hawks' victory was underpinned by their superior ball movement and depth with Atlanta recording 29 assists compared to Orlando's 22. Additionally, the Hawks' bench outscored the Magic's reserves 54-25, highlighting the importance of the road team's second unit in securing the win.

Defensively, both teams had their moments, with the Hawks recording 10 steals and the Magic blocking eight shots but Atlanta's ability to force 17 Orlando turnovers proved to be a critical factor in the outcome.

This win improves Atlanta's record to 27-28, moving them into 10th place in the Eastern Conference and strengthening their position in the play-in tournament race but the loss drops Orlando to 26-30, pushing them down to 11th and outside the current play-in picture.

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Joe Ingles saw some rare court time for the Timberwolves with the veteran playing 15 minutes, grabbing one rebound and dishing out two assists as Minnesota were demolished by the Cleveland Cavaliers 128-107.

Fellow Australian Luke Travers also hit the floor for the Cavaliers, recording one rebound along the way.

Charlotte Hornets @ Brooklyn Nets

Josh Green made his return from a calf injury, playing almost 27 minutes and recording five points, two rebounds, two steals and one assist as the Charlotte Hornets lost 97-89 to the Brooklyn Nets on the road.

Five players scored in double figures to lead Brooklyn to victory while Moussa Diabate led the way for the Hornets with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

New Orleans Pelicans @ Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder keep putting away teams early, meaning valuable learning minutes for Aussie swing man Alex Ducas, who played six minutes, scoring three points and grabbing two rebounds as Oklahoma City cruised to a 137-101 win against the Pelicans at home.

Oklahoma City further solidified their place at the top of the Western Conference as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his push for MVP with 31 points to lead the Thunder.

Sacrament Kings @ Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum's impressive form continues after his return from wrist surgery, dishing out a season-high six assists but it wasn't enough as a DeMar DeRozan game-winning floater sent the Mavericks to a 129-128 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Exum, who also added five points and two rebounds, started alongside Kyrie Irving as Dallas looked to overcome the loss of new recruit Anthony Davis but they fell short, putting their spot inside the play-in picture in jeopardy as they face several weeks without Davis.

Portland Trail Blazers @ Denver Nuggets

Aussie big man Duop Reath and the Portland Trail Blazers ran into the steam train that is Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, falling to a 29-point loss on the road as the MVP dominated with 40 points, seven rebounds and eight assists,

Reath played more than four minutes as he struggles to push his way into the rotation, he went 1-from-1 from the three-point line to finish with three points while Matisse Thybulle was once again out with an ankle injury.