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Orlando Magic Week 6 Takeaways: Mental growth and fortitude

By Philip Rossman-Reich

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 /
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Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic
Nov 9, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) goes in for a lay up against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

By David Iwanowski

The Orlando Magic showed their mental growth this week.

Their game at Minnesota appeared to be the same old story from the first two weeks. They had a 17-point lead in the third quarter, and the Timberwolves creeped their way back into the game and tied it late.

What did the Magic do this time?

They kept fighting, and held on for a 96-93 win.

In a somewhat different start of the game in Utah, coach Scott Skiles called a timeout with 6:39 left in the third. Gordon Hayward had just hit a wide-open three to put the Utah Jazz up six. The Magic were playing in their second straight road game, and the jazz simply had more energy.

However, the timeout sparked the Magic, and they ended up winning by nine points.

Saturday in Los Angeles, the Magic were on the road against a tough Los Angeles Clippers team who, despite missing J.J. Redick and Chris Paul, needed this win and were ready to fight.

The Clippers were 8-5 at home coming into the game, and still fielded two star players in Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. The Magic played them tough, and even had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter before letting it slip. However, after blowing the lead, the Magic kept fighting and still had a chance to win at the end.

A 2-1 start on a five-game West Coast road trip is impressive, especially with two of the wins coming against teams currently in playoff position.

With the final two games of the stretch being against teams toward the bottom of the Western Conference, the Magic have a chance to make a statement.

The Magic showed they are ready to compete for a playoff spot, and they are going to fight hard no matter who they play.

Next: Strong resolve