Magic Get Win Heading into All-Star Weekend

Orlando, FL— After a disappointing loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, the Magic bounced back with a 102-86 win over the Charlotte Hornets this evening.

Nurkic Praises Orlando Roster

Newly acquired Hornets center Jusuf Nurkic had some high-praise for the Magic after their win this evening.

“I think they are a really good young team and they are doing a really good job,” Nurkic said. “They have a really good coaching staff but I think they are missing one player. I can’t name it, but that’s my little fella from Portland, but I love my Portland people — but [I] think they are waiting and missing one player to be a really good team.”

Injury Report

The Magic have been struggling as of late as they’ve won just six games in their last 20 contests coming into tonight’s matchup. For context, the last time Orlando had back-to-back wins was against the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics at home back on Dec. 21st and Dec. 23rd.

Charlotte had a lengthy injury report as they had top players down from LaMelo Ball (right ankle; soreness), Tre Mann (disc; herniation), Brandon Miller (right wrist; ligament repair), Josh Okogie (left hamstring; strain), Grant Williams (right ACL; repair), and Mark Williams (not with team) were all out.

Orlando would be without Jalen Suggs (left quad; contusion) who missed his ninth straight game and Jonathan Isaac (lower back tightness) was downgraded to out before tipoff.

Magic Not Overlooking the Hornets

Jamahl Mosley spoke to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel and other Magic reporters at shootaround earlier this afternoon that his team cannot overlook the Hornets even with their injuries.

“You tell them. You speak the truth to exactly what it is,” Mosley said.”We’ve had games where we’ve overlooked teams and those are the games you look back on in April and say, ‘That’s one we could’ve gotten’ — The focus of Magic basketball is going to be the most important thing for us tonight.”

The Magic got off to a slow start scoring just 44 points in the first half versus a depleted Hornets team. In that first half, Orlando shot 17 of 50 (34%) from the floor and 5 of 21 (23.8%) and it looked as if this team was visibly frustrated, and rightfully so. 

KCP Ejected

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had plenty of open looks early on and unfortunately couldn’t get the shots to fall. To make matters worse, KCP got ejected with 2.1 seconds left in the half for jawing back-and-forth with Hornets Nick Smith Jr.

Caldwell-Pope just moments before his ejection was face-guarding Smith Jr, clearly speaking to him to his face, and the referee gave him a warning at first. After both players were running back up the court they continued to get in each other’s face, and the officials handed out double technicals to both of them as they got ejected from the game. 

With KCP being the veteran of the group he simply cannot make that type of mistake in a moment like that, when his team is struggling and needs him out there. Mosley was asked how his ejection changed his plan in the second half.

“You do it by committee,” Mosley said. “He was upset, and rightfully so. But it changes because you start Jett [Howard] out there, you ask him to give a little bit of a spark, understanding who he is and what he needs to do.”

Make Takeover in the Second Half

The Magic responded nicely in the third quarter and into the fourth quarter as they were able to finally pull away in this contest. Orlando outscored Charlotte 58-40 in the second half and was able to be firmly in the driver’s seat.

“I would say us being down at halftime, how the half ended, with KCP getting kicked out,” Banchero on what sparked their second-half run. “I think when you see one of your starters, veteran, get kicked out the game like that before the half, I think it adds some fire.”

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner once again led the way for the Magic in this contest combining for 40 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, and shot an efficient 14 of 30 (46.6%) from the floor and 4 of 11 (36.3%) from distance.

Anthony Black was nothing short of impressive as he led all bench scorers with 18 points, and four rebounds, and he shot 8 of 13 (61.5%) from the field and 2 of 4 (50%) from deep.

Magic Earn Much Needed Win

Orlando’s season has been far from perfect up to this point considering the injuries they’ve had to endure and their struggles on the offensive end. Jamahl Mosley was asked in the postgame how he would describe the season so far, and here’s how he responded.

“We’ve had about three seasons in one,” Mosley said. “You talk about the injuries, you talk about the different lineups, different situations, the different circumstances – It’s growth, it’s adversity, it’s leaning into the adversity and understanding how you can be better down the stretch. It’s given us a glimpse of what we can do when we are whole, and then it’s also given us a glimpse of when things get difficult, how we respond.”

As the Magic wrapped up tonight’s game they will have their work cut out for them moving forward. Orlando is now heading into the NBA All-Star break with a record of 27-29 and will be looking for a late playoff push with 26 games left.

Paolo Banchero was asked postgame about what the team can gain from having time off for the All-Star break.

“Everyone just getting off their feet the first couple of days and then getting in there and doing what’s needed to be ready when we come back — We’re not in a position where we can relax.”