The message contained within the Orlando Magic’s locker room hasn’t modified.
So while they walked off the courtroom and left Amway Middle after their dominant 128-102 win Sunday over the Detroit Pistons understanding their chances of constructing the play-in occasion diminished, they did so with out dropping sight of the bigger picture: enchancment and growth that will lengthen previous this season.
“We put ourselves in an excellent place this yr,” guard Jalen Suggs said. “We had a gradual begin, however we bounced again, went on a successful streak, actually performed properly and form of simply made a reputation for ourselves now. The Magic aren’t the Magic of final yr the place it’s, ‘We’ve obtained a free win coming in right here,’ [or] ‘This workforce is in an entire rebuilding course of.’ We’re successful now.”
The Magic’s win over the Pistons was their sixth victory in eight video video games and their largest margin of victory this season.
They’re 29-25 since Dec. 5 — No. 11 inside the league over that span — after starting the season 5-19.
However outcomes from completely different Sunday matchups made every Magic recreation for the rest of the frequent season must-wins to keep up their play-in hopes alive.
The Toronto Raptors (39-39) beat the Charlotte Hornets to ensure the Magic (34-44) couldn’t finish the season better than No. 10 inside the Jap Convention standings.
The Chicago Bulls (38-40) beat the Memphis Grizzlies to maneuver one recreation nearer to securing a spot inside the play-in.
The Magic are 4 video video games behind Chicago for the No. 10 seed inside the East, nonetheless Orlando’s “magic” amount is one, meaning the Magic may very well be eradicated from play-in rivalry with the Bulls’ subsequent win or the Magic’s subsequent loss.
The Nos. 7-10 seeds in each conference compete inside the play-in occasion for the Nos. 7 and eight spots inside the playoffs.
The Magic, the lone employees inside the East that’s in the meanwhile exterior of the play-in that hasn’t been eradicated from postseason rivalry, play the Cleveland Cavaliers (49-30) Tuesday and Thursday at Amway Middle.
The Bulls play the Atlanta Hawks in Chicago Tuesday. Each teams have postseason stakes on the street.
“Regardless, we’re going to proceed enjoying to win,” Suggs said. “I said it closing week sooner than our freeway journey; I’ll say it as soon as extra: we’re not having fun with this recreation to easily go in the marketplace. … We’re going out to win, night time time in and night time outing.
“We’re enjoying properly. Persevering with to maintain that up, no matter whether or not [the Bulls] win, don’t win … We’re going to proceed to play to win, proceed to battle for that spot. If we don’t get it, we don’t get it. If we do, play-in event, which might be nice. However proceed to do our factor.”
Orlando’s matchup in opposition to Cleveland will give the Magic one different different to play in opposition to a employees having fun with for one factor — playoffs seeding or qualifying — down the season’s stretch.
The Cavaliers are the No. 4 seed inside the East nonetheless would possibly switch as a lot as No. 3 or fall to No. 5 counting on how they shut the season.
These sorts of video video games, quite a few players and coaches have said, have helped their growth.
“Proceed to take it one sport at a time, proceed to get higher [and] proceed to compete,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “We’ve competed all yr lengthy. Regardless of the rating, it doesn’t matter what the circumstances are, we proceed to compete night time in and night time out. How will we get higher and the way will we play our greatest fashion of basketball at this level within the season?”
This text first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Electronic mail Khobi Worth at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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