Hawks rout Magic 130-101 for 17th win in 19 games

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 32 points, Jalen Johnson added 18 points and 14 rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks routed the Orlando Magic 130-101 on Wednesday night for their 17th victory in their last 19 games.

Dyson Daniels had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks, who shot 51% for the game and had a 52-36 rebound advantage. Johnson came two assists short of his 14th triple-double of the season.

The Hawks swept the season series against the Magic 4-0 and now have a 3 1/2 game lead over Orlando in the Southeast Division with five games remaining — six for Orlando.

Jamal Cain led the Magic with 17 points off the bench. Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. added 14 points each.

Magic forward Franz Wagner scored 12 points in 20 minutes in his first game since Feb. 11. Wagner, who averaged 23.4 points on 55% shooting in the Magic’s first 23 games, has missed 47 of the last 52 games with a high ankle sprain.

The Hawks blew the game open with a 47-point second quarter in which they made 17 of 24 shots. Jonathan Kuminga's 3-pointer broke a 32-32 tie early in the quarter and Atlanta led the rest of the game, stretching the margin to 31 early in the second half.

Alexander-Walker scored 17 points in the period, and he was one of six players to score during a four-minute stretch in which Orlando went scoreless.

With 7:30 remaining in the game and the Hawks up 110-89, Magic center Goga Bitadze drew a flagrant foul 2 (and automatic ejection) for pulling Hawks center Jock Landale down by the shoulder. Daniels was given a technical foul for confronting Bitadze after the takedown.

Hawks: Play at Brooklyn on Friday night.

Magic: Play at Dallas on Friday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) passes the ball out of the corner as he is defended by Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)

Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) gains control of the ball as he is defended by Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, knocks the ball out of the hands of Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) drives down the court against the Orlando Magic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The U.S. military conducted a rapid response exercise involving Marines and military aircraft in Venezuela’s capital Saturday, over four months after the ouster of then-President Nicolás Maduro.

Two Marine Corps Osprey aircraft, which have characteristics of both a helicopter and a fixed-wing airplane, flew over the recently reopened U.S. Embassy in Caracas. They landed in the parking lot with the downdraft blowing tree branches. Forces then descended from the aircraft.

“Ensuring the military’s rapid response capability is a key component of mission readiness, both here in Venezuela and around the world,” the embassy said on Instagram.

Venezuela’s government had announced the drill earlier this week. Foreign Minister Yván Gil said the U.S. would conduct the exercise to prepare “in the event of medical emergencies or catastrophic emergencies.”

The drill comes almost two months after the U.S. formally reopened its embassy in Caracas. The reopening followed the restoration of full diplomatic relations with the South American country after Maduro 's ouster in early January.

Some Caracas residents Saturday gathered near the embassy to watch the aircraft, while a few dozen others gathered elsewhere in the city to protest the exercise. Protesters held a Venezuelan flag with the message “No to the Yankee drill” written over it.

U.S. military aircraft last flew over Caracas on Jan. 3, when elite forces rappelled down from helicopters and captured Maduro and his wife. Both were taken to New York to face drug trafficking charges. They have pleaded not guilty.

U.S. Embassy holds emergency and air evacuation drill in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

U.S. Embassy holds emergency and air evacuation drill in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

U.S. Embassy holds emergency and air evacuation drill in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

A soldier looks down from a military aircraft as the U.S. Embassy holds an emergency and air evacuation drill in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

U.S. Embassy holds emergency and air evacuation drill in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)