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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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Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 14: Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic celebrates after making the game winning shot against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 14, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Birth of The Human Torch

Nov. 14: Magic 111, 76ers 106

Early in the season, it is still hard to figure out what is real and what is noise. But patterns start to get developed and storylines start to form. Fans start to connect with the team and excitement can build.

The Nov. 14 game against the Philadelphia 76ers was a turning point in a lot of ways. Sure, the 76ers had just acquired Jimmy Butler and were adjusting to him on the fly. But this was still one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. A team that beat the Magic a few weeks ago on a last-second shot from J.J. Redick.

That game was the seedling for a legend though. Terrence Ross scored 15 points in that first meeting early in the season with the 76ers with a lot of them in a wild fourth-quarter comeback. He hit a shot from near half-court to tie the game with a little more than a minute to play.

What was becoming clear about Ross was he could get hot at any moment and that could completely change the tenor of a game. The Magic have not had a player like that in a really long time.

This game against the 76ers was the first time Ross did it in a big win. This was the game that felt like the spiritual origin of “The Human Torch.” He hit the game-winning 3-pointer late in the game and let out a celebration that would become iconic.

This was a big confidence-building game for the team. A big win over what many believed would be an elite team with so many things going on was a huge sign of what this team could accomplish.

This was also the game where Jonathan Isaac erased a Joel Embiid dunk. That play was as much a spark for the eventual win as anything else. The game showed the Magic’s potential and reset some expectations even at this early stage of the season.