With quite a lot of regular-rotation avid gamers sitting out or participating in restricted minutes on the final word day of the frequent season, the Orlando Magic fell 123-110 on the Miami Warmth on Sunday to finish 34-48.
After being eradicated from contending for a spot inside the play-in match with their Tuesday loss to Cleveland, the Magic shifted their focus to making an attempt out completely totally different rotations to close out the season.
Orlando started with the lineup of Markelle Fultz (7 elements in 11 minutes), Jalen Suggs (8 elements, 7 rebounds and a pair of assists in quarter-hour), Caleb Houstan, Franz Wagner (10 elements, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of steals in quarter-hour) and Wendell Carter Jr. for the first time, with quite a lot of the start lineup participating in 16 or fewer minutes.
Houstan scored a career-high 21 elements on 6-of-14 taking photos (5 of 11 on 3-pointers).
Kevon Harris had a career-high 22 elements (7-of-12 taking photos, 4-of-7 on 3s) and eight rebounds off the bench. Chuma Okeke had 14 elements, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 33 minutes.
“Whoever places on that jersey and steps on the ground, they’re going to compete,” coach Jamahl Mosley talked about. “That’s what that group did.”
Ahead Paolo Banchero (once more tightness), forward Jonathan Isaac (season-ending left inside thigh surgical process on March 3), guard Jay Scrubb (ineligible to play) and forward Moe Wagner (sprained correct ankle) sat out.
Florida alum Udonis Haslem, who carried out in his closing regular-season recreation with the Warmth after a 20-year occupation in Miami, led his group with a game-high 24 elements — his highest-scoring recreation since having 28 on Nov. 14, 2009, and tied for the second-most elements he scored all through his NBA occupation.
“I simply have to offer him a lot respect for what he’s carried out for this franchise, this Warmth group,” Mosley talked about. “Him with the ability to discuss in regards to the respect he has for our crew says so much as a result of he’s seen so much.”
The Warmth (44-38) have already got been locked in at No. 7 inside the Japanese Convention, the very best spot to qualify for the postseason play-in match.
They sat Jimmy Butler (rest) and Nikola Jovic (once more spasms). A lot of the Warmth’s frequent rotation carried out restricted minutes, along with none inside the second half.
Miami will host the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday on the newly named Kaseya Heart to search out out who’ll be the No. 7 seed for the East’s playoff bracket and play the Boston Celtics inside the first spherical. The loser will host the conference’s concluding play-in recreation on Friday to search out out the No. 8 seed inside the playoffs.
The Magic’s 12-win enchancment from last season was in all probability probably the most inside the East and the third-most inside the league behind the Sacramento Kings (48-34 this season after going 30-52 in 2021-22, an 18-win enchancment) and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (40-42 after going 24-58 last 12 months, a 16-win enchancment).
Sunday’s loss, the Indiana Pacers beating the New York Knicks and the Portland Path Blazers falling to the Golden State Warriors meant the Magic’s first-round draft determine can have the sixth-best odds of turning into the No. 1 determine inside the Could 16 draft lottery.
In accordance with Tankathon, Orlando’s odds will in all probability be:
- 9% for the No. 1 determine
- 9.2% for No. 2
- 9.4% for No. 3
- 9.6% for No. 4
- 8.6% for No. 6
- 29.7% for No. 7
- 20.6% for No. 8
- 3.7% for No. 9
- 0.2% for No. 10.
The Magic may need an additional first-round determine inside the June 22 draft. The Chicago Bulls, who accomplished at No. 10 inside the East and may play at Toronto on Wednesday inside the play-in match, owe Orlando a top-four protected determine.
This text first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Electronic mail Khobi Value at [email protected] or adjust to him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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