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

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 5: Wes Iwundu #25 of the Orlando Magic reacts against the Atlanta Hawks on April 5, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 5: Wes Iwundu #25 of the Orlando Magic reacts against the Atlanta Hawks on April 5, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 2: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball against the Brooklyn Nets on February 2, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Honorable Mentions

Oct. 22 at Boston Celtics: One of the Orlando Magic’s best early wins, it was memorable more for the finish. Jonathan Isaac scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. That included the clinching basket, a pump fake at the 3-point line into a step-in mid-range jumper. The second-year player hit it calmly and professionally and delivered a big win for the team.

Nov. 17 vs. Los Angeles Lakers & Nov. 25 at Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James is still clearly one of the best players in the NBA. Beating his team is still a big deal. The Magic simply had the Lakers’ number. Nikola Vucevic scored 36 points in the Magic’s win at Amway Center and then 31 in the win at Staples Center as the Magic swept the Lakers for the first time since 2009.

Dec. 15: vs. Utah Jazz (Mexico City): The Orlando Magic played two ugly games in Mexico City, outlasting the Chicago Bulls in the fourth quarter. They needed another gritty fourth quarter to defeat the Jazz in the second game. That was no easy task and the team really started to build its defensive identity in these two games.

Dec. 30 vs. Detroit Pistons: Evan Fournier has built a nice cache of clutch moments and play. He added a few of those this year. One of them was a brilliant runner to help the Magic defeat the Pistons in a late December matchup.

Jan. 31 vs. Indiana Pacers & March 2 at Indiana Pacers: Both of these games followed a familiar pattern. The Magic were toe-to-toe with the Pacers through three quarters and then used a strong fourth quarter — powered by Terrence Ross — to put the game away and get a win against a playoff-quality opponent.

Feb. 2 vs. Brooklyn Nets: The Magic suffered two crushing losses to the Nets in the previous three weeks — blowing a 20-point lead at home and then losing on a Nikola Vucevic offensive interference. This game, the Magic left no doubt, winning it in the fourth quarter and winning a big game against a playoff competitor.

Feb. 10 at Atlanta Hawks: In one play, Jonathan Isaac announced what he could do defensively, blocking John Collins three times and striking fear into him. Collins was never the same when Isaac was around. And Orlando continued its mastery over Atlanta.