As cliché because it sounds — or finally may be — Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has reiterated the identical message about his workforce’s method all through the season: By committee.
That mindset was on full show within the Magic’s 119-113 Sunday matinee win over the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.
Despite being with out Mo Bamba and Jalen Suggs on account of the league’s penalties from Friday’s on-court altercation on the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero not having their most effective scoring video games, the Magic (22-32) hardly missed a beat.
Led by Banchero’s 22 factors (6-of-20 capturing however 10 of 11 on free throws), 10 rebounds and 5 assists, all 10 Magic gamers who acquired taking part in time scored at the very least 6 factors, together with 9 who scored 8-plus.
“That has been Coach’s motto to us all year,” Banchero mentioned. “That’s how we are going to win with everyone chipping in.”
The Magic pummeled Charlotte on the offensive glass, grabbing 18 offensive rebounds for 20 second-chance factors.
They as soon as once more locked in defensively within the center two quarters, weathering one other gradual defensive begin after permitting the Hornets to take a 37-28 first-quarter lead.
Orlando held the Hornets to 48 mixed factors within the second and third quarters to take a 90-85 lead heading into the fourth.
“They did a great job communicating and talking out different coverages,” Mosley mentioned. “Obviously, they got a couple quick ones as they started to speed the game up, but our guys did a really good job communicating, covering for one another and just competing. It’s the last game of a long road trip, and think that’s a great way to end it.”
Pulling out the victory didn’t come simple for the Magic.
The Hornets (15-40), who had been paced by level guard LaMelo Ball’s 33 factors, took a 91-90 edge early within the fourth quarter and later led 95-92.
But the Magic discovered their stage, stayed composed and leaned on their protection and a wide range of shotmaking down the stretch: a Caleb Houstan 3 to present the Magic a 101-97 lead with 7:29 remaining plus Moe Wagner (8 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists) scoring in bunches.
Markelle Fultz (16 factors on 8-of-13 capturing to go together with 5 assists and three steals) knocked down a pair of midrange photographs within the closing moments, with the second placing the Magic up 112-103 with 2:18 remaining.
Orlando held onto its lead from there to go 3-1 on the street journey.
The Magic have already got matched their win whole from final season, with 28 regular-season video games remaining.
Wendell Carter Jr., who sat Friday due to strained proper plantar fascia — the tender tissue underneath the foot — had a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double to go together with 3 assists.
Franz Wagner had 14 factors however on 5-of-16 capturing.
The Magic’s bench mixed for 39 factors, led by Cole Anthony’s 9 factors (4-of-8 capturing) and 5 assists. The second unit gave Orlando its first lead at 40-39 halfway via the second quarter.
Jonathan Isaac had 6 factors, 7 rebounds and 1 block in a season-high 11 minutes.
Houstan, the Magic’s second-round decide from final 12 months’s draft, had 8 factors on 3-of-4 capturing in his first sport with Orlando since Jan. 10 and his first time taking part in rotation minutes for the Magic since Jan. 5.
He’s had a few stints with the group’s G League workforce, the Lakeland Magic, over the previous few weeks.
“His ability to stay ready,” Mosley mentioned of Houstan’s attributes. “Our coaches do a great job with him. His ability to go to the G League, play well there, keep his rhythm, get some reps up. But then defensively his ability to be in the right position, offensive rebounding and obviously his ability to shoot the basketball, space the floor the right way.”
The Magic will return to Orlando for a three-game homestand beginning with Tuesday’s matchup vs. the New York Knicks.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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