Presser Wire

Atlanta Hawks at Orlando Magic

Atlanta Hawks
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Orlando Magic

What they've said

Atlanta Hawks

Everything said since their last game, v Mavericks on 16 Oct.

Atlanta Hawks · Lu Dort
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If it's playing 10, 12 minutes straight, playing 5 minutes, whatever it is, you know, I'll be ready to go.
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Lu Dort will come off the Hawks' bench after starting his whole career. He said he's had good conversations with Quin Snyder about it and is ready for any stint: "If it's playing 10, 12 minutes straight, playing 5 minutes, whatever it is, you know, I'll be ready to go."

Atlanta Hawks · Kingston Flemings
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If I play 8 minutes, I'm trying to affect it the same as if I play 20.
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Hawks rookies' minutes hinge on depth. Zuby Ejiofor hasn't gotten into some games, though Quin Snyder said he had a really good practice. Kingston Flemings, before the opener against the Magic: "If I play 8 minutes, I'm trying to affect it the same as if I play 20."

Atlanta Hawks · Quin Snyder
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We've got a group that had a lot of continuity at the end of last year. That's the way we'll start the season
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"We've got a group that had a lot of continuity at the end of last year. That's the way we'll start the season," Quin Snyder said of the Hawks. Preseason put health first, which he said made the rotation tricky to judge; lineups will keep being evaluated.

Atlanta Hawks · Quin Snyder
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The problem is the game is 48 minutes.
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Quin Snyder has sat down individually with Lu Dort, Corey Kispert and Asa Newell about their Hawks roles, and said Kispert "had a terrific preseason." Asked if Newell needs reps, he praised his defense but didn't commit: "The problem is the game is 48 minutes."

Orlando Magic

Everything said since their last game, v Heat on 16 Oct.

Orlando Magic · Orlando Magic press conference
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Anthony Black was a full participant at Orlando practice and is "definitely feeling better" after an ankle roll unlike any he'd had before. Coach Sean Sweeney wouldn't commit on the next game; Black, who missed most of training camp, is taking it day by day.

Orlando Magic · Noah Penda & Sean Sweeney
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health first, then it's conditioning, and then it's basketball.
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Orlando's Noah Penda will miss the start of the season with a new hamstring injury on the same leg as his first, which imaging showed had fully healed. Timeline? "I have no idea, honestly." He won't rush back. Sean Sweeney: whoever gains minutes has "to be ready to go."

Sean SweeneyAvailabilityView on X

Franz Wagner (shoulder) got "some light work in" at Orlando's practice but is "still being evaluated." Asked about concern, Sean Sweeney wouldn't commit. His order for lingering issues, games or not: "health first, then it's conditioning, and then it's basketball."

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