Via the entire weirdness and stoppages that Sunday’s 128-102 home win over the Detroit Pistons launched, the Orlando Magic’s hopes of qualifying for the play-in occasion are nonetheless intact.
Barely.
The Magic’s victory, their sixth win in eight video video games, launched them to 34-44 on the season — a 12-win enchancment over ultimate 12 months’s file with 4 additional regular-season video video games to play.
“Very happy,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley acknowledged. “They did a extremely good job of taking up that problem. We challenged them earlier than the sport saying how now we have to begin video games. Our guys did an incredible job of that defensively, in addition to offensively sharing the basketball.”
However outcomes from completely different Sunday matchups made every Magic recreation for the rest of the widespread season must-wins to take care of their play-in hopes alive.
First: the Toronto Raptors (39-39) beat the Charlotte Hornets 128-108 to verify the Magic couldn’t finish the season larger than No. 9 inside the Jap Convention standings.
Second: the Chicago Bulls (38-40) bought right here once more from a 15-point halftime deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 128-107.
The Magic keep 4 video video games behind Chicago for the No. 10 seed inside the East, nonetheless Orlando’s “magic” amount is now one, which implies the Magic may be eradicated from play-in competitors with the Bulls’ subsequent win or the Magic’s subsequent loss.
They made optimistic that didn’t happen Sunday, pulling off a dominant victory in entrance of an launched attendance of 19,431 people — the fourth-largest in workforce historic previous.
The Magic jumped out to a 20-8 lead early inside the first quarter and didn’t let up at any stage, taking a 34-29 lead going into the second.
Even all through a second quarter that featured quite a few stoppages as a result of shot- or game-clock malfunctions, the Magic maintained focus. The primary half lasted 1 hour and 16 minutes. Most first halves are decrease than an hour prolonged.
Orlando outscored Detroit 29-15 and 28-24 in second and third quarters, respectively, making the last word quarter primarily extended garbage time after taking a 91-68 lead going into the fourth.
The Magic’s offense was as quickly as as soon as extra well-balanced, with Jalen Suggs primary the best way wherein with 18 elements (5-of-9 taking footage, 4 of 6 on 3s).
Eight avid gamers scored in double figures, with the Magic having 30 assists on 43 self-discipline targets and tying a season-high 17 3-pointers.
“We’ve a variety of weapons on this crew,” Anthony acknowledged. “Once we get on the market and simply play very selflessly, it’s enjoyable. We defended. Glad we bought the dub, on to the subsequent one.”
Franz Wagner (16 elements, 8 assists and 5 rebounds), Paolo Banchero (14 elements, 9 rebounds and three assists), Wendell Carter Jr. (14 elements, 9 rebounds in 23 minutes) and Markelle Fultz (11 elements, 6 assists in 24 minutes) have been among the many many starters who scored at least 10 elements.
Cole Anthony (17 elements, 6 rebounds and three assists), Goga Bitadze (13 elements, 3 rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes sooner than fouling out) and Moe Wagner (11 elements in 18 minutes) scored in double figures off the bench.
Chuma Okeke (3 elements) was inside the rotation and carried out 11 minutes, his most participating in time since Feb. 14. Two-way wing Jay Scrubb (2 elements, 1 rebound) made his Magic debut and Michael Carter-Williams made his season debut late inside the fourth.
The Pistons (16-62) have been led by Killian Hayes’ 20 elements and 7 assists.
The Magic will play back-to-back video video games in the direction of the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday and Thursday at Amway Heart to close out their regular-season home schedule.
This text first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. E-mail Khobi Worth at [email protected] or adjust to him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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