Piff the Magic Dragon is a well-known character and performer in the world of magic and entertainment. Piff, whose real name is John van der Put, gained popularity through his appearances on the reality TV show "America's Got Talent" in 2015. Piff's unique style is a blend of comedy and magic, with a twist of sarcasm and deadpan humor. He is often seen wearing a dragon costume, complete with a green suit, a red cape, and a dragon headpiece. This distinctive look has become Piff's trademark and makes him instantly recognizable. One of the reasons for Piff's success is his ability to engage and captivate audiences with his quick wit and clever magic tricks.

Prediction, Preview, and Odds
#507 Orlando Magic vs.
#508 Atlanta Hawks
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 7:40pm EST
Philips Arena, Atlanta
Written by Paul Biagioli

Southeast Division rivals face off in the NBA when the Orlando Magic (22-18, 26-14 ATS) travel to take on the Atlanta Hawks (16-23, 10-29 ATS). The Magic are currently in 8th in the Eastern Conference standings, while the Hawks are back in 11th. Orlando is coming off a win in Madison Square Garden, defeating the Knicks 98-94, winning outright at 5.5-point underdogs. Atlanta is coming off a home win over San Antonio, winning 109-99 and covering as 8.5-point favorites. This is the third of four matchups between these teams this season, with the series tied at 1-1. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 EST from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

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Magic Snap Three Game Skid

The Orlando Magic are a young team and are battling for a playoff spot as we head toward the middle of the season. They recently lose three straight games, going down to the Timberwolves at home, then losing to the Heat and Thunder on the road. They got out of their funk by defeating the Knicks in New York, the Magic dominated the interior as they had 52 points in the paint opposed to 36 from New York. The Magic were led by Paolo Banchero with 20 points in the win.

Paolo Banchero leads the Magic in points, rebounds and assists in his second season in the league. He averages 22.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 4.9 APG. He has scored 20 or more in his past three games, including a 25 point game against Miami. Franz Wagner is their second leading scorer, but will miss this game with an ankle injury. This makes Cole Anthony their next highest scorer, he gets 13.7 PPG and 3.4 APG, all while coming off the bench. Anthony has not started a game all season. Jalen Suggs is the top guard in the starting lineup, he scores 12.9 PPG. Goga Bitadze starts inside and averages 7.1 PPG and 6.6 RPG from the center position.

The Magic have rotated their starting lineups, last game Chuma Okeke and Caleb Houstan started as role players taking up minutes next to Banchero and Suggs. Moritz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. are both used off the bench as post players. Orlando ranks 24th in offensive efficiency and 3rd in defensive efficiency according to dunksandthrees.com. The Magic play at the 16th fastest pace in the NBA.

Out: Franz Wagner, Gary Harris

Will the Hawks Make a Move?

The Atlanta Hawks currently sit in 11th in the Eastern conference, but the question is not if they will move up the rankings, it is if they will make a trade before the deadline. It was reported that the Hawks have shopped around Dejounte Murray to multiple teams looking for a trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski: "The chances of him moving before the deadline are very high." The Hawks have struggled to find the right mix around Trae Young, as they traded away John Collins over the offseason as well. In their last game, they were led by Young with 36 points and 13 assists in the win over San Antonio.

Trae Young leads the team with 27.5 PPG and 10.9 APG. He is second in the NBA in assists and has had at least ten assists in three of his last four games. Young is making 3.4 threes per game on 36.3% shooting. Murray is their second leading scorer, and is still a Hawk for now, he is averaging 20.8 PPG and 4.8 APG. Murray is in a bit of a cold streak as he has only scored 13 points in each of the past two games. Bogdan Bogdanovic is used as a scorer off the bench, he gets 16.9 PPG as an outside shooting specialist. Jalen Johnson is a 6'8 forward who has upped his scoring lately, he gets 15.0 PPG on the season and recently dropped 25 on the 76ers. Clint Capela is their big man on the inside, he is averaging 11.4 PPG and 10.5 RPG.

DeAndre Hunter typically starts on the wing, but will be out for this game with an injury. Saddiq Bey and Onyeka Okongwu will get minutes off the bench in this one. The Hawks rank 10th in offensive efficiency and 27th in defensive efficiency. They play at the 5th fastest tempo in the NBA based on their pace of play.

Out: DeAndre Hunter, Wesley Matthews

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One of the reasons for Piff's success is his ability to engage and captivate audiences with his quick wit and clever magic tricks. He often incorporates comedy into his illusions, creating a hilarious and entertaining performance that appeals to both children and adults. In recent years, Piff the Magic Dragon Groupon has become a popular way for fans to experience Piff's show at a discounted price.

Best Bets for this Game

Full-Game Side Bet

The Magic are one of the best teams in the NBA against the spread, while Atlanta is the absolute worst. Orlando covers in 65.0% of their games, only the Thunder and 76ers are higher. Meanwhile, the Hawks only cover in 25.6% of their games, way below the next worst team as the Suns cover in 36.8% of their games. The Hawks are not covering games, and now their roster is a mess; DeAndre Hunter is an elite wing defender and outside shooter, but he is out, and the trade rumors may be getting to Dejounte Murray. Murray has only scored 13 points in each of his last two games, he typically scores well above that. Hearing your name in trade rumors repeatedly can affect your play, and it seems to be hurting Murray. The Magic beat the Hawks by seven just ten days ago, Orlando is deep at all positions and they have two players coming off the bench scoring double figures in Cole Anthony and Moritz Wagner. Orlando is on the way up with their young core, while Atlanta may begin to crumble as they are not meeting expectations and shopping for trades.

Take the Magic plus the points.

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Full-Game Total Pick

Both teams are dealing with important injuries, and have been hitting unders lately. Franz Wagner will miss this game for Orlando, so they will need to find out how to replace his 20.9 PPG, which will not be easy to do. The Hawks will be without 14.9 PPG from DeAndre Hunter, but this may not be their biggest concern. Atlanta plays fast, but things have changed recently since the trade rumors heated up surrounding Dejounte Murray. He has not been scoring as much lately, and the Hawks have gone under in four of their last five games, they are not playing the same as they were earlier in the season. Orlando is in the bottom half of the league in tempo, and has hit the under in each of their last five games. Orlando has the 29th longest offensive possessions, they take their time on offense and their defense is ranked 3rd in the league in efficiency, which will limit Atlanta's production.

Orlando Magic rally for 98-94 victory over New York Knicks to snap a 3-game losing streak

NEW YORK — The Orlando Magic are getting bodies back on the bench. So many of them that Paolo Banchero got an extended rest watching them in the fourth quarter.

The star forward delivered a couple big shots when he finally got his chance.

Banchero scored 20 points, Cole Anthony had 10 of his 15 in the final quarter and the Magic beat the New York Knicks 98-94 on Monday to snap a three-game losing streak.

Wendell Carter Jr. added 17 points for the Magic, going 7 for 11 off the bench in a strong return after missing five games with right knee tendinitis. Chuma Okeke scored 15 points.

The Magic trailed by 11 in the third quarter and didn't have much going offensively most of the day. But they took charge midway through the final period and grabbed the lead for good at 90-89 when Anthony tipped in a missed shot with 3:45 to play.

Banchero, on the bench for the first half of the final period, then knocked down consecutive jumpers for a five-point lead, which was plenty with the way the Knicks struggled.

"I think just wanting to come in the game and close it out," Banchero said of his mindset. "I had been sitting over there for a while, and I was ready to come in the game."

Along with Carter, Markelle Fultz, Joe Ingles and Jonathan Isaac were all available off the bench Monday after missing time recently for a Magic team that has fallen into eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

"You saw what they did coming off the bench. I think they put on a defensive clinic in a lot of ways," coach Jamahl Mosley said.

Deuce McBride scored a career-high 20 points in a second straight start in place of Jalen Brunson, who has a bruised left calf. OG Anunoby added 17, but Julius Randle shot just 5 for 18 and was held to 15 points.

The Knicks lost on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the third straight time, falling to 23-15 on the holiday.

The Knicks had played a league-low 15 home games entering the day and 24 on the road. But the schedule turned favorable starting Monday, with a four-game homestand this week and seven straight in New York — six at Madison Square Garden and a game Jan. 23 at Brooklyn.

But they started it with a mostly miserable offensive performance, shooting under 40% and 68.2% on free throws, going a dismal 2 for 6 in the fourth quarter.

"Just stagnant. Way too stagnant," Randle said.

The Knicks led 52-50 at halftime despite Randle going just 1 for 8 for four points and missing 15 of their 20 3-point attempts.

Donte DiVincenzo also had 15 points for the Knicks.

UP NEXT

Magic: Visit Atlanta on Wednesday.

Knicks: Host Houston on Wednesday.

Magic rally for 98-94 victory over the Knicks to snap a three-game losing streak

Orlando Magic’s Cole Anthony (50) looks to shoot over New York Knicks’ Quentin Grimes (6) and Duane Washington Jr. (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The Orlando Magic are getting bodies back on the bench. So many of them that Paolo Banchero got an extended rest watching them in the fourth quarter.

The star forward delivered a couple big shots when he finally got his chance.

Banchero scored 20 points, Cole Anthony had 10 of his 15 in the final quarter and the Magic beat the New York Knicks 98-94 on Monday to snap a three-game losing streak.

Wendell Carter Jr. added 17 points for the Magic, going 7 for 11 off the bench in a strong return after missing five games with right knee tendinitis. Chuma Okeke scored 15 points.

The Magic trailed by 11 in the third quarter and didn’t have much going offensively most of the day. But they took charge midway through the final period and grabbed the lead for good at 90-89 when Anthony tipped in a missed shot with 3:45 to play.

Banchero, on the bench for the first half of the final period, then knocked down consecutive jumpers for a five-point lead, which was plenty with the way the Knicks struggled.

“I think just wanting to come in the game and close it out,” Banchero said of his mindset. “I had been sitting over there for a while, and I was ready to come in the game.”

Along with Carter, Markelle Fultz, Joe Ingles and Jonathan Isaac were all available off the bench Monday after missing time recently for a Magic team that has fallen into eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

“You saw what they did coming off the bench. I think they put on a defensive clinic in a lot of ways,” coach Jamahl Mosley said.

Deuce McBride scored a career-high 20 points in a second straight start in place of Jalen Brunson, who has a bruised left calf. OG Anunoby added 17, but Julius Randle shot just 5 for 18 and was held to 15 points.

The Knicks lost on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the third straight time, falling to 23-15 on the holiday.

The Knicks had played a league-low 15 home games entering the day and 24 on the road. But the schedule turned favorable starting Monday, with a four-game homestand this week and seven straight in New York — six at Madison Square Garden and a game Jan. 23 at Brooklyn.

But they started it with a mostly miserable offensive performance, shooting under 40% and 68.2% on free throws, going a dismal 2 for 6 in the fourth quarter.

“Just stagnant. Way too stagnant,” Randle said.

The Knicks led 52-50 at halftime despite Randle going just 1 for 8 for four points and missing 15 of their 20 3-point attempts.

Donte DiVincenzo also had 15 points for the Knicks.

Magic: Visit Atlanta on Wednesday.

Knicks: Host Houston on Wednesday.

Groupon is a website that offers deals and discounts on various products and services, including tickets to live performances. By offering his show through Groupon, Piff is able to reach a larger audience and introduce his unique brand of magic and comedy to new fans. This has helped to increase his fan base and solidify his position as a prominent figure in the magic world. Overall, Piff the Magic Dragon Groupon has helped to make Piff's shows more accessible to a wider audience and has contributed to his continued success as a performer. Whether through his appearances on "America's Got Talent" or his unique blend of magic and comedy, Piff remains a beloved and talented entertainer who continues to bring joy and laughter to audiences around the world..

Reviews for "Don't Break the Bank: Piff the Magic Dragon Tickets with Groupon Savings"

- Name: Jennifer

Rating: 2/5

Review: I purchased the Groupon deal for Piff the Magic Dragon and was quite disappointed with the performance. While I understand that comedy can be subjective, I found the jokes to be repetitive and not very funny. The magic tricks were also underwhelming and lacked the wow factor I expected. Overall, it was an average experience at best, and I don't think I would recommend it to others.

- Name: Michael

Rating: 3/5

Review: I was excited to see Piff the Magic Dragon based on the positive reviews, but unfortunately, I found the show to be a bit lackluster. The comedy was hit or miss, with some jokes falling flat and others eliciting a few chuckles. The magic tricks were decent, but nothing extraordinary. The highlight of the show was Piff's assistant, who brought some much-needed energy to the performance. While it was an okay way to spend an evening, I don't think it lived up to the hype.

- Name: Sarah

Rating: 2/5

Review: I had high expectations for Piff the Magic Dragon, but the show left me feeling underwhelmed. The comedy felt forced, and the delivery was lacking. The magic tricks were predictable and didn't leave me in awe. The overall performance felt disjointed, and it was difficult to connect with Piff as a performer. I wouldn't recommend spending money on this show unless you're a die-hard fan of Piff or desperate for a night out.

Unlock an Evening of Wonder: Score Groupon Discounts for Piff the Magic Dragon