Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 96, Minnesota Timberwolves 93

Dec 1, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) celebrates with forward Tobias Harris (12) after their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Magic won 96-93. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) celebrates with forward Tobias Harris (12) after their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Magic won 96-93. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic continued playing some outstanding defense to take a 17-point lead. But they needed everything they had to hold off Minnesota’s late rally

The Orlando Magic aimed to start their five-game road trip with a win, and they did just that. Despite nearly blowing a 17-point lead, they held on and won 96-93 over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Tuesday.

The team will not be happy with how they played in the final 18 minutes, but they are definitely feeling better after the game than they did after the first few games, where they squandered leads and ended up losing four of their first five.

As a factoid, the Magic have won four games in a row for the first time since December 2012, a streak that came crashing down when Glen Davis hurt his shoulder. Orlando is also now 10-8, two games over .500 this late in the season for the first time since the 2012 season (the last with Dwight Howard).

Essentially, this is the best the team has played since the rebuild began.