The Orlando Magic are showing that they are a team that can beat anyone.
The Orlando Magic have the longest winning streak in the Eastern Conference and now they believe that they know how to win games.
The Orlando Magic is on a roll. Not only have they won seven games in a row, but they’ve also beaten some of the best teams in the league. The kind of wins that make national headlines. The team’s confidence is sky high after these past few wins, and they’re ready to keep it going.
Let’s start with this young Magic team’s first win of the season, over the Milwaukee Bucks. This game didn’t jumpstart the Magic’s winning streak, but it certainly gave them the confidence they needed to compete against anyone they faced.
There was no way the Magic were going to win this game coming off a quick turnaround from Mexico City, where they had lost by 15 in their previous game. It wasn’t even close in the first half, as the Bucks only got within 11 points twice before the Magic pushed the lead back to double digits. Even with the absence of Damian Lillard, the Magic passed the test with flying colors.
In addition to Suggs’ 20 points, the Magic had three other players with 20 points or more.
Franco Wagner added 24 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, as well as 26 points.
Banchero finished with 12 rebounds and 5 assists.
It was the start of what would be seven straight wins for the Magic.
The Orlando Magic began their season with a loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
After that, they went on the road and won their next two games.
They beat the Chicago Bulls twice in a row by a combined 40 points.
The Magic then closed out their road trip by shutting out the league’s best offense, Indiana Pacers, by as many as 40 points.
The Orlando Magic continued to take care of business, defeating the Toronto Raptors at home. That is what good teams have to do. Orlando is 6-1 against teams with record below .500.
But a young team like the Magic is not going to get noticed until they beat the elite teams in the league. That is what the Magic continued to do last week.
Then the young Magic faced the defending champs last Wednesday. This was a game that the team needed to win to show them that they could beat a championship-level team.
This was a serious test that the Magic passed defeating the Nuggets by five in their 124-119 victory. In the win, three Magic players also had 20 or more points. Cole Anthony put up 20 points, Franz Wagner scored 27 and Paolo Banchero had 23 points.
More importantly, the team put behind some late-game struggles, using a fourth-quarter comeback this time to get back into the game and critical late shots from Banchero and Wagner to secure the win. Orlando stared down the defending champs and did not blink.
Narratives change quickly and this team grew up quickly.
This was game five of the winning streak.
And then it was on to the Boston Celtics on Friday in one of the most anticipated games of the season.
The team that most pundits have winning the title in 2024 and the betting favorites to win the NBA’s In-Season Tournament.
This turned into another test the Magic passed easily. The Magic beat the Celtics by 17 points, using a 17-0 run in the third quarter and outscoring the Celtics 65-40 in the second half. A 36-point fourth quarter separated the teams and the Magic have now beaten Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis.
Orlando took care of its business and put itself in the driver’s seat to win East Group C and advance in the In-Season Tournament.
Regardless of what happens in that tournament, the Magic accomplished a lot in the last two weeks to establish itself as a potential contender.
Orlando has now gone 6-4 against teams with record better than .500, the second-best mark in the Eastern Conference (Boston is 9-3). Only the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets have better marks against winning teams in the Western Conference.
Orlando Magic 130, Charlotte Hornets 130
The Magic added to their winning streak with a win over the Hornets on Sunday. It’s always good to beat the teams you’re supposed to beat, and the Magic didn’t look like they were going to give up, even though they got off to a slow start.
It’s time for the Magic to start feeling confident that they can beat anybody they face, right? After all, they beat the favorites this year and last year’s championship team, which was without its starting point guard, Markelle (Fultz) Fultz, and its starting center, Wendell (Carter).
That’s a lot of confidence, and the Magic seem like they want to keep it going. But they also seem confident that they can improve. That’s the right way to handle success, and the Magic know it’s just the start.
Let’s be honest: the Magic have reached the point where they think they can win every game they play.
It’s early in the season, and there’s still a long road ahead. But Orlando’s Amway Center has been a force to be reckoned with early this season, and they’ve shown the league that they can compete with anyone. That’s one of the reasons why everyone needs to start buying into this team.
