While a run on the play-in is bleak with 9 video games left to play, the Magic have discovered themselves in shut video games in opposition to groups with the playoffs of their sights.
They created some daylight Tuesday with a 122-112 victory in opposition to the Washington Wizards at Amway Center.
The Wizards (32-40), who entered because the No. 11 seed within the East, have been two video games again of the No. 10 Chicago Bulls (34-37) earlier than tipoff. They fall even with the Indiana Pacers (32-40).
The Magic are studying as they go.
“It’s fantastic for this young group,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned earlier than Tuesday’s recreation. “We can’t say it enough, and you can not stress it enough, in helping understand how critical and valuable those small possessions are. Playoff teams understand how critical winning the first quarter is in any type of situation. The more experience we can get there, the better it’ll be for this group.”
The victory was Orlando’s first this season in opposition to the Wizards after dropping the primary two conferences. The two groups will meet for the ultimate time in Washington on March 31.
Gary Harris led the Magic with 22 factors and caught hearth from the 3-point line, taking pictures 6 of 9 from past the arc. Franz Wagner had 20 factors with 6 assists, whereas Paolo Banchero had 18 factors and eight assists.
“He does a fantastic job of just finding space on the floor,” Mosley mentioned of Harris. “Being in the right place at the right time and then reading the defense and our guys found him.”
Markelle Fultz, certainly one of two lively gamers on the roster the final time Orlando made the playoffs in 2020, had 17 factors together with 5 assists and 5 rebounds.
“When you’ve got teams that are trying to fight for playoff spots or fight to get into the playoffs, the intensity in the game is just a lot different,” he mentioned. “Any opportunity we get a chance to do that is huge for us and we’ve got to really lock in and take advantage of it.”
Off the bench, Cole Anthony had 16 factors and Moe Wagner scored 15. Wagner scored 11 straight factors spanning the tip of the primary quarter to early within the second to present Orlando a 31-25 lead.
“As a competitor, you always want to play for something,” Wagner mentioned. “Sometimes you neglect, from a crew that’s very younger and gamers haven’t actually had the chance to steer but, they wish to show themselves each evening so there’s a really excessive degree of competitors and progress wanted each evening. That depth and pleasure is there.
“Now that you’re playing for something. You want to create a culture where you play winning basketball and I think matters to have the mentality of wanting to go somewhere and to have it right in front of us means a lot.”
Kristaps Porziņģis led Washington with 30 factors. Bradley Beal handled foul hassle all through the sport and completed with 16 factors together with 7 assists. He fouled out with 2:55 left.
Orlando (30-43), lacking guard Jalen Suggs (concussion) for the third recreation in a row, stays in thirteenth place however stays mathematically alive to catch the Bulls.
The Nos. 7-10 seeds in every convention compete within the play-in match for the Nos. 7 and eight spots within the playoffs.
The Magic returned house after a four-game West coast journey 1-3, their lone win coming in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers who’re fifth within the Western Conference. Their solely non-playoff opponent, San Antonio, beat them by 18.
It’s throughout this a part of the 82-game season that groups rounding into playoff type discover their subsequent gear. The Magic, whose common age is slightly below 24, haven’t certified for the postseason since 2020.
Gaining expertise, even in falling brief this season, is usually a vital step waiting for 2023-24.
Two extra victories will give them a 10-game enchancment above final season’s 22-win crew.
“Each one of these teams that are walking in here are fighting for something,” mentioned Mosley, who has dates vs. the playoff-bound New York Knicks on Thursday and the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday for this three-game homestand. “We’re fighting to get to this certain position.”
And the duty will get harder. The Magic shut the common season with matchups in opposition to Memphis, Cleveland (twice), Brooklyn once more and Miami, all playoff groups right now.
The Wizards have been lacking their third-leading scorer, Kyle Kuzma, due to a sprained proper ankle Tuesday.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com