2018-19 Orlando Magic Season Review: Top 10 games of the season

1. Return to the Playoffs

April 13: Magic 104, Raptors 101

The Orlando Magic waited seven years to make the playoffs. It was a long journey to get back to the postseason, even to experience a short first-round series.

As the Magic won games throughout the season and finally clinched a spot, you could sense the feeling of accomplishment they had. They did it in this place together after all the years many of these players have been together struggling even to string together two wins in a row.

There was still some feeling of disbelief among the fan base who gleefully joined the ride. There was certainly still some disbelief among basketball fans.

Orlando was still fairly easy to dismiss — just as many dismissed Nikola Vucevic’s presence on the All-Star team. Sure this team won 42 games and the seventh seed, but the Magic still had this “odd-man-out” feeling to them.

The matchup with the Toronto Raptors was always going to be a tough one. Even though Orlando matched up well with Toronto in the regular season, it was not going to be easy to ratchet things up for the playoffs.

The Magic could have played like they were simply happy to be in the playoffs. Coach Steve Clifford always told his team to push for more. They were never truly satisfied.

Game 1 was not easy by any means. The Magic took an early lead and forced the Raptors to make the first adjustment of the series, switching Danny Green on D.J. Augustin after he scored 19 points in the first half.

Toronto took control in the second half and Orlando had to rally. That is what the Magic were good at, if you could not tell from this list already.

With the game on the line and Kawhi Leonard pouring in tough shot after tough shot, the Magic made big plays. Nikola Vucevic struggled to score but whipped the ball to Jonathan Isaac and then to Aaron Gordon for two big 3-pointers. Evan Fournier got a big steal for a layup to give the Magic a late lead. Augustin slithered through the lane for a layup at a critical moment — two of his five second-half points.

Those final three came on the biggest play of the game.

Then with the game tied on the final possession, Augustin made the smart play. He read the defense perfectly and drained the game-winning 3-pointer.

Orlando proved they belonged in the playoffs and delivered an iconic moment. The moment that will replay from this season over and over again in Magic history.

Augustin’s shot will stay with the team for a long time, putting him in the pantheon of Magic players. He will always have a home in Orlando for that shot. Just like so many members of this team will forever have a home in Orlando.

The rest of the playoff series hurt. The loss woke the Raptors up and life was much more difficult for the Magic the following four games.

But Orlando will always have this moment. The ecstasy of returning to the playoffs and taking that first game. That feeling will never go away.