Orlando, FL – Defensive intensity and winning seems to be Orlando’s motto this season as they get their eighth win in a row tonight over the Washington Wizards 139-120.
Despite the Magic finishing with a record of 3-1 in group play during their in-season tournament, Orlando did not advance and they came out with a vengeance tonight. Jalen Suggs got this team ignited all evening and it started in that first period with a three on the right wing, a no-look dish to a cutting Anthony Black for a layup, and his defensive tenacity.
Enough cannot be said about Orlando’s bench unit who is top two in the association in points per game and they have two legit sixth man of the year candidates in both Cole Anthony and Mo Wagner. Toward the end of the first quarter, Joe Ingles hit a big three-pointer on the right wing, which was followed up by two Gary Harris threes, and Cole Anthony getting a tough layup over Jordan Poole.
The Magic did a great job of keeping their energy level high to finish the half as you had Cole Anthony hitting two threes and a huge dunk from Jalen Suggs who dropped the hammer in transition. Orlando went into the break up 66-56.
It was not even a contest in the second half as the Magic continued to assert their dominance and run away with this contest. Highlight reel plays were all over the court for Orlando in that second half, Joe Ingles skipping a beautiful bounce pass to Franz Wagner in transition for the slam at the end of the third. A big slam from Mo Wagner down the lane off the screen, Jalen Suggs with a beautiful alley-oop pass to Cole Anthony who threw it down, and a big steal and 360 slam for Jalen Suggs going coast to coast.
A game that was dominant from start to finish for the Magic and they have now improved to 13-5 on the season. After the game, I asked Jalen Suggs about how the crowd has been so electric for this team during the win streak and he stated, “It’s so dope and since we’ve gotten here they’ve told us day after day how this city is waiting for us to put it together. We’ve gone through some tough times but to stay the course, understand that it’s a journey, take it day by day, and as you keep taking daily deposits over time it’s going to start to show. Along with the fans, we wanna turn them up, this home stand it’s been great. Leaving is going to be bittersweet, but it’s cool we get to go back on the road and take on the challenges.”
Franz Wagner led all Magic scorers tonight with 31 points as he shot 11-14 from the field, and 4-6 from three. Jalen Suggs played an incredible game as he chipped in 22 points on 3-6 shooting from behind the arc and two steals. Cole Anthony led all bench scorers with 25 points on 9-16 shooting and was 3-5 from deep.
The Magic will be playing host to the Washington Wizards again this Friday evening and will be looking to make it nine consecutive wins.