Orlando, FL – After all the hype and anticipation all off-season leading up to the 35th anniversary season for the Orlando Magic, they took care of business and won their season opener over the Houston Rockets 116-86.
The Amway Center was energetic and loud all evening as the Orlando crowd showed up in a big way for the home opener. Franz Wagner came out of the gates firing on all cylinders in the first quarter hitting on three three-pointers. Defensively the team came out with a lot of intensity to begin the game with a block from Jonathan Issac on Jalen Green, and Jalen Suggs playing with a lot of intensity.
The first half was all about the bench unit as both Cole Anthony and Gary Harris combined for 21 first-half points. Cole was taking guys off the dribble, hitting the three, and proving that big spark off the bench for the second unit. Orlando would go into the halftime locker room up 54-43.
Houston got off to a hot start in the second half as they opened up on a 16-9 run, to cut the lead to 63-59 with 7:49 remaining in the third. Orlando didn’t let up and asserted their dominance for the rest of the matchup. The third quarter was filled with big highlight plays from Jonathan Issac, and a big slam from Markelle Fultz, and the team was a well-oiled machine.
In the fourth with a substantial lead, Orlando flooded their bench and the third unit got to see some action on the court. Anthony Black got a nice ovation from the crowd as he got his first bucket and had a big play on the defensive end.
After the game, I asked Head Coach Jamahl Mosley about Jalen Suggs and how he is now shooting the ball with more confidence and he had this to say,
“We absolutely want him taking those shots. He’s done a great job, as have all the guys in the summer being able to take a more mature approach to how they’re going about their game. If you’re getting the right looks we want each and every one of our guys stepping in with confidence and taking those shots.”
Orlando won’t be able to celebrate this victory for long as they have practice tomorrow and they begin a four-game west coast road trip on Friday evening at Portland.
