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Man, if you caught the start of that Hawks-Magic Play-In game, you probably felt the same thing I did—Atlanta looked like they forgot it was win-or-go-home. Orlando came out blazing, and before you could even settle into your seat, the Hawks and Trae Young were buried in a deep first-quarter hole.

They tried to claw back in the second, sure, but let’s be real—they never even got close to making it interesting. At no point did the lead shrink below ten before the break. And yeah, the shooting? Brutal. They bricked threes like it was a contest—just 21.4% from deep. Free throws? Might as well have been optional with how many they missed.

But here’s where it went from bad to straight-up comedy. TNT had apparently planned this whole halftime bit with a real hawk—like, an actual bird. Sounds epic, right? Except Atlanta played so lifelessly that they scrapped it. Instead, they rolled out Shaquille O’Neal giving CPR to a stuffed hawk. I’m not kidding. Shaq, in full save-the-franchise mode, trying to revive a toy bird on national TV.

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If you tuned in hoping for some late-game drama, the Magic weren’t having it. Despite a little heat from Young in the second half, who finished the night with 28 points, Orlando shut things down fast and never let Atlanta get too comfortable. The final score? A lopsided 120-95.

One Atlanta fan clearly wasn’t ready to watch his team go down without a fight—even if he had to get weird with it. This guy showed up dressed like it was Halloween in April, costume and all, just to throw off the Magic at the free throw line.

And when I say he committed? I mean full-on chaos. Every time Orlando stepped up to shoot, he let out the strangest noises you’ve ever heard in a basketball arena. Honestly, the whole scene felt like something out of a comedy sketch. You had a dude in full costume making gremlin noises courtside while the Hawks were trying to survive. It was chaotic, hilarious, and totally unexpected—but hey, desperate times, right?

Naturally, fans on social media ate it up. The reactions came flying in, and let’s just say, people had a lot to say about Atlanta’s loudest and weirdest supporter.

What’s your perspective on:

Did the costumed fan help or hurt the Hawks' chances with his courtside chaos?

Have an interesting take?

Trae Young and the heckler can’t get Hawks over the line

One viewer wasn’t having it at all. “Who the f— is making that damn noise at the Hawks vs Magic game. Shut the h— up!” they posted, clearly fed up with the courtside chaos. And honestly, you can’t blame them. While the fan’s antics had some people cracking up, others saw it as a total distraction—especially with how quiet arenas get during free throws.

It’s one thing to bring energy, but this guy crossed into full-blown disruption. Some fans felt like it was taking away from the actual basketball, especially in a Play-In game where the stakes are sky-high.

Another viewer chimed in with, “Ay idk who that is making that noise at this Magic vs Hawks game but PLEASE SHUT TF UP”—and yeah, that frustration felt pretty relatable.

In high-stakes games like this, where every possession and free throw counts, there’s a fine line between hyping up your team and becoming a full-blown distraction. That bizarre screeching? It wasn’t just background noise—it cut through the entire broadcast. At times, it felt like the fan was drawing more attention than the players at the line.

One fan summed up the collective confusion perfectly: “My god who is making that noise while the Magic is at the free throw line.” And honestly, they weren’t alone. That mystery screecher had everyone from viewers at home to courtside attendees doing double takes.

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Now here’s the thing—NBA games aren’t exactly quiet affairs, especially during the Play-In. But this wasn’t your typical crowd noise. It was loud, offbeat, and borderline unsettling. A lot of folks online wondered the same thing: should security have stepped in and escorted the guy out?

One fan wasn’t having it, posting, “I can’t even watch this Hawks vs Magic game with that person making noises during the free throws. SMH.” It’s important to keep in mind that while fan engagement is part of what makes live sports so exciting, there’s a fine line between supporting your team and disrupting the game. At some point, security has to step in to maintain a balance.

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One fan clearly wasn’t missing a beat when they tweeted, “The entire arena can hear him, I’m all the way in 102 😂.” And honestly, that’s kind of hilarious—and a bit wild. The fan was all the way up in section 102, but still couldn’t escape the sound of the mysterious screecher courtside. It really shows how loud and disruptive the noise was, cutting through the entire arena like a hot knife through butter.

The fan’s antics might’ve been funny in the moment, but it wasn’t nearly enough to rattle Orlando. If anything, it added a weird layer to the game, but it didn’t change the outcome. In the end, the Magic clinched the No. 7 seed in the East.

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Did the costumed fan help or hurt the Hawks' chances with his courtside chaos?

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