The NBA season is coming to an end.
The long slog to get through this pandemic-shortened season has taken its toll on everyone. It was a trying season. A worthy champion will absolutely be crowned. And the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks have delivered an unforgettable Finals.
But everyone will be ready to turn the page and try to get back to some normalcy — although this offseason will also be short because of the league’s delayed start.
The Orlando Magic are certainly ready to turn the page too. It was a disaster of a season with injuries derailing the team from seemingly the very beginning. They finished 21-51 and 14th in the Eastern Conference.
They ultimately pulled the plug and ended their playoff experiment at the trade deadline. It was a slow drift to the end of the season and the team never seemed to find any traction.
The Magic are eager to start new and begin this rebuild. They are eager to turn the page and refresh themselves.
Everyone wants to leave the 2021 season behind for sure and look to that bright future.
The Orlando Magic have already moved on to focus on building for the 2022 season. But we will take one last look back at our top-10 games from the 2021 season.
But we are not done quite yet. As the NBA Finals come to a close, we have two more tasks to get to before we finish the 2021 season. We have to name a season-long MVP and we have to name our top 10 games of the season.
Yes, even though there were a lot of losses and bad moments throughout the season, there is always good. Winning is important and it is ultimately how everything is judged, but every season has its memorable moments we take with us into the offseason. And every season provides games that make the journey at least enjoyable for a little bit.
Especially with such a young team, it is usually these singular moments that will give hope to the future. That is exactly what happened this year.
To give us a better taste of the Magic’s past and future — because the present is not so great — here are our top 10 games from the season.
Top 10 Orlando Magic Games of 2021 Season
10. Orlando Magic open with win — vs. Miami Heat (Dec. 23, 2020)
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Orlando Magic take first steps to make good on disappointing 2020 season
Nobody believed the 2020 season went the way it was supposed to for the Orlando Magic. Injuries derailed the team but they still comfortably made the playoffs. Entering the 2021 season, Orlando played with something like a chip on the team’s shoulder.
The team brought back a lot of the same players. And even without Jonathan Isaac in the fold, the team believed it could still take a leap up in the standings. Especially in the pandemic season with little practice time and preparation time, they believed familiarity would help.
Early on, it was hard to argue with that. Especially with this opening game against the Miami Heat.
The Heat were coming off a trip to the NBA Finals and were poised to advance themselves. Sure, they had some injuries early on — and Jimmy Butler picked up a knock in the fourth quarter. But no one will match the optimism and feeling of the team’s outlook.
Orlando had to gut this game out, winning late and clinching it with an incredible display of the team’s connectivity.
Playing with a small lead, Aaron Gordon fed the ball to Nikola Vucevic at the elbow who put a perfect bounce pass to Evan Fournier a basket and the foul. It was a sign of pure synergy and a showing of how the Magic could indeed work together to win.
Defeating the Heat is always a good thing for the Magic. To do so again on opening night seemed to show the Magi ccould be a surprise team.
Orlando will tell you both coming out of the bubble and at the beginning of the season that the team was poised to be that surprise team of the East. It is always better to start 1-0 than 0-1. The Magic certainly felt that momentum and comfort early on.
Top 10 Orlando Magic Games of 2021 Season
9. Nikola Vucevic’s star turn (again) — vs. Chicago Bulls (Feb. 5)
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Nikola Vucevic is in the background no more
Bring up the fact that Nikola Vucevic is a two-time All-Star and there will still be some questions about its legitimacy. People still are not wholly aware of just how good Vucevic is.
Some of that is he is toiling in Orlando, which even when competitive can still fly under the radar. Some of it is that he is not a flashy player. Vucevic is fine setting screens and popping out to the 3-point line. You will not find many highlights when it comes to Vucevic. That just is not his game.
Still, he sometimes comes out with a game that demands notice. And he had several of those throughout the course of the 2021 season. Vucevic was about the only positive thing to come out of the season before the trade deadline. He was the only thing keeping the team remotely competitive.
When a player becomes an All-Star, the next question is how they take their game to the next level. People believed Vucevic had a weaker 2020 season even though his numbers were essentially the same as 2019. Vucevic took his game to another level in the 2021 season then.
The win over the Chicago Bulls was the biggest sign of this. He scored 43 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, dominating the game. The Magic raced ahead to a big lead before Zach LaVine led a crazed comeback to get the Bulls within a few points.
Vucevic though had some big moments at the end to close the game out. And this was a performance that locked in his spot on the All-Star team.
Top 10 Orlando Magic Games of 2021 Season
8. Chuma Okeke’s coming out party — vs. Golden State Warriors (Feb. 19)
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Defense is the base for Orlando Magic to grow
The rookies who manage to stick in the NBA all always have a moment where it clicks for them. Rookie players are usually not that great and are full of inconsistencies. But there need to be enough light bulb moments to make a team stay invested and foster that growth.
Chuma Okeke is certainly no ordinary rookie.
He showed a ton of maturity throughout the season and was clearly absorbing everything around him like a sponge. Coach Steve Clifford lamented not playing him in his natural position because of all the injuries the team had to fight through.
And then there was the injury Okeke was still obviously recovering from. It usually takes a full year for a player to regain strength and skill after a torn ACL. And Okeke was doing this while learning the NBA.
So his performance in a spirited 124-120 win over the Golden State Warriors stood out in a major way. This was Okeke’s major coming out party as a young player.
Okeke scored only 11 points in the game. But he made three 3-pointers, including two big ones in the fourth quarter as the Magic held off Stephen Curry’s late rally. Players knew this was a big moment for Okeke. He had just returned from a bone bruise in his surgically repaired knee, this game and the moment it created for him was a confidence boost that would serve him throughout the season.
This game started a strong run from him as a shooter, giving the Magic hints of the weapon they hope he will become. Rookies do crash back to earth. But Okeke showed enough in a moment like this to prove he was a keeper.
This game also featured another classic Nikola Vucevic performance — 30 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. It just showed what a gargantuan effort it would take for the Magic to upend a team like the Warriors.
Top 10 Orlando Magic Games of 2021 Season
7. Call it a Comeback — at Washington Wizards (Dec. 27)
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Orlando Magic’s production off their bench gives them life
Remember when the Orlando Magic had that invincible feeling this year? That notion that they could withstand a rally, take a punch and punch back? When there was some determination and grit and a belief — a true belief — they could win no matter what?
So much of the early season optimism came from the team’s third game of the season. After defeating the Washington Wizards on the road the night before, the Orlando Magic had a tall task to do it again.
Down 17 points early in the fourth quarter, the road to a win seemed tougher. A 2-1 record was still a solid showing to start the season. But Orlando was not that team to settle for that.
Michael Carter-Williams and the bench lit the spark. They got things going for the Magic and from there Markelle Fultz and Nikola Vucevic took things over from there.
Orlando not only erased the deficit, but the team took control with Fultz leading the way for a career-high 26 points on 11-for-21 shooting. Fultz was going to make a mark in his hometown.
He deftly funneled the ball behind him to Nikola Vucevic for a key layup and made a shot of his own to complete the comeback and put the Wizards away.
Everyone believed that not only was Fultz back but that he might be reclaiming some of that top overall pick talent. Some of the moves he put on and the way he kept such an even keel throughout the game to finish the comeback were signs that something more special could be brewing.
Of course, nobody knew what was going to happen a little less than two weeks later. But everyone was enjoying Fultz’s renaissance for the time being. This was a master class.
And, boy, does everyone want to see this Fultz back sooner than later.
Top 10 Orlando Magic Games of 2021 Season
6. Cole’s first game-winner — at Minnesota Timberwolves (Jan. 20)
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Cole Anthony’s patience and preparation paying off for Orlando Magic
Like Chuma Okeke, Cole Anthony needed to find his place in the league. He needed his moment.
This was not supposed to be it. Terrence Ross fouled out with 1:40 to play putting the rookie into the game. Orlando was down four at the time and crept to within two after Cole Anthony hit a three with about 30 seconds to play. It looked like Orlando would be toast after Aaron Gordon missed a potential go-ahead three.
It took Jarred Vanderbilt missing two free throws to set things up. And the Magic had no timeouts. If they did, the ball likely would not find its way to the rookie guard.
But everything worked out perfectly to get the ball to Anthony’s hands. And the Magic learned that night that Anthony is not going to shy away from the moment. And then he is going to revel in it too.
Vanderbilt’s second miss caromed off long and Anthony had to dig it out. With time winding down, Anthony had no choice but to get to the 3-point line and take the shot himself.
Anthony took a running leaner to get a look at the basket. When he made it, it sent everyone on the Magic’s bench to euphoria. Anthony ran around the court, avoiding the dogpile that was inevitably coming for him. He had to be corralled back to the court to do the postgame interview — his first of many memorable ones.
Losing this game to a team struggling as much as the Timberwolves were at the time would have been disastrous for the team. They could not afford this loss and it certainly would have made the decision to pull the plug come sooner.
But more importantly, it showed Anthony could step up in a big moment. And he was not going to be afraid of that moment.
That was a big reason the team drafted him.
Top 10 Orlando Magic Games of 2021 Season
5. Magic go bonkers to beat Nets — vs. Brooklyn Nets (March 19)
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Orlando Magic’s character will be tested and cemented this season
By March, everyone knew the Orlando Magic were on their last legs. They had slipped in the standings but remained close enough to provide some hope. Orlando had to put some wins together to get going.
They had a terrible loss to the New York Knicks the night before where Evan Fournier turned the ball over on the final possession with a chance to win. Everyone could feel the season slipping away. The end was near.
And a back-to-back with the Brooklyn Nets back in Orlando was a daunting task. Kyrie Irving and James Harden were still at their peaks and they both played like it.
But Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier had one last trick up their sleeve. A little bit of proof that the team could still be dangerous.
Gordon had perhaps his best game of the season, scoring 38 points on 7-for-8 shooting from deep. Fournier had 31 points on 6-for-8 shooting from deep. The Magic saw their offense hum in a way they always imagined.
The Magic were never going to be this consistent. They got an otherworldly performance, especially from Gordon who just could not scratch out consistency on offense. This was one of those outbursts that made everyone believe in his star potential.
Orlando never saw this Gordon consistently. But when he gets rolling, it was still impossible not to fall in love.
The Magic, as always, had to hold on for the win. Kyrie Irving started cooking down the stretch. And Orlando relied on its All-Star to finish the job. Nikola Vucevic added 22 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.
Even when others were starring, Vucevic was still at the hub of everything, helping set others up.
For a night though, the Magic had the belief they could conquer the world. And for a night, they really did.
Top 10 Orlando Magic Games of 2021 Season
4. The revenge game — at Chicago Bulls (April 14)
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Wendell Carter wants to impact winning with the Orlando Magic
From the moment the Orlando Magic completed their trades, the April 14 date in Chicago was circled on the calendar. The revenge game is a real thing for fans. It may not be that real for players. But it is hard not to get up for these kinds of games.
Wendell Carter certainly seemed to be up for the game. He scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his return to Chicago. James Ennis had 22 points and Gary Harris and Michael Carter-Williams each scored 15.
The Magic would have plenty of games down the stretch where the young players took the front. This game was about the veterans. They wanted to prove they would be all right without Vucevic in the lineup.
For fans, there was nothing more cathartic too.
The Orlando Magic took a double-digit lead and like the first matchup with the Chicago Bulls, Zach LaVine nearly single-handedly brought them back into the game. But Orlando held on time and again. The Bulls ran out of time. And it was clear Chicago was still figuring its new group out while Orlando played on raw emotion.
Nikola Vucevic still had 29 points and 14 rebounds. It was not like he was not playing well and starting to fit in. The Bulls just had not figured out how to play together.
Orlando just had a lot more juice this game. There was a lot more motivation to pick up the win and take this important step for the group.
But it was a victory for the veterans. One of the few to end the season. Soon, many of those players would sit out for injury or give way to younger players on the roster. This was their last hurrah in many ways.
For fans, it was good to get this win and show some signs the Magic were going to be all right. Or at least, they hoped they would.
Top 10 Orlando Magic Games of 2021 Season
3. One last ride — vs. Phoenix Suns (March 24)
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Orlando and Orlando Magic will always be home for Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic
The Orlando Magic knew the trade deadline was going to change their fate. The day before the deadline, they knew there were moves to be made. Everyone was seemingly acknowledging it if not overtly than through unspoken words.
This was the end of their era.
Evan Fournier seemed destined to move. Aaron Gordon had already requested a trade. Nobody knew that Nikola Vucevic was moving on.
But this game against the Phoenix Suns felt like a going away. It felt like the end of an era.
It may be a largely forgettable one with a failed rebuild and a playoff respite toward the end. But it was still nearly a decade of playing together and being in this city. It was clear these players felt a kinship with the city.
So they delivered a classic game, rallying from a late deficit and finishing the game off on Evan Fournier’s lay in toward the end of the game. Orlando celebrated one last win together. It felt extremely poetic. It felt right to send that group off with a win and give one last moment of glory for the group.
Fournier probably said it best in post game:
"“The fact I have been here for seven years, had a son here, got married, it means more than a lot,” Fournier said after the game. “It is hard to put words into it. I got traded here when I was 21. Now I’m a totally different man and a totally different player. I have a lot of love for the franchise and the people who work here. If this is the end, it’s the end. I obviously will love the franchise and we’ll see.”"
Indeed, it was the end. In ways that not even seasoned Magic fans could have imagined. Orlando made the trades to reshape the franchise the next day.
Their All-Star was gone not 12 hours later and the Magic traded away Gordon and Fournier, the other stalwarts, shortly thereafter. It was truly a new day.
But fans at the Amway Center got to celebrate one last sunset before they rode off. And they got a classic and memorable performance as they went away.
Top 10 Orlando Magic Games of 2021 Season
2. Clippers Comeback — at LA Clippers (March 30)
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Effort is a good place for Orlando Magic to restart
The problem with young teams is usually about consistency. Nobody really knows what to expect from a night-to-night basis. As young teams learn consistency and how to play together, the hope is they show some signs and steal some wins that point toward a brighter future.
Even now, as the Orlando Magic prepare to start up with a new coach and kick their rebuild off, they are probably looking to have games and play with the effort and frenetic energy that helped them steal a win at STAPLES Center against the LA Clippers.
What started out as a regular mid-season game with the more dominant Clippers racing out to a double-digit lead quickly turned into something else.
Orlando was still not used to playing with each other after the trade deadline, having departed on a West Coast trip a few days after the big moves. They were playing on a basic strategy — pressure the ball, try to create turnovers and run. It really felt like this style would suit them as they delivered some surprising early returns.
Things would settle in. But the game against the Clippers was the first win since the deadline and a proof of concept that the Magic had some solid players to work with.
Orlando chipped away at the lead and got strong performances off the bench with Terrence Ross and Otto Porter leading the way with 15 and 13 points. Wendell Carter came off the bench but finished the game with a slew of strong blocks.
Chuma Okeke was the brightest spot with 18 points, taking on Kawhi Leonard with gusto as the Magic just kept pestering the Clippers.
In the end, though, it was their defense that delivered the win. Whether it was Wendell Carter’s blocks or Michael Carter-Williams coming with huge plays, the Clippers just kept coming up empty and the Magic continued to put the pressure on them.
If there is a game that should be a preview for how the Magic should play moving forward, it should be this one. They got into the ball and made the Clippers’ life miserable squeezing just enough high-octane offense to run away with the game in the end.
Top 10 Orlando Magic Games of 2021 Season
1. Never a doubt — vs. Memphis Grizzlies (May 1)
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Orlando Magic’s youth points to a brighter future as playoff dreams get snuffed out
It takes a certain amount of bravado to take the last shot. It takes a little bit of gusto and flair to demand the ball with the game on the line.
The Orlando Magic learned fairly quickly that Cole Anthony has that bit of a streak. They probably drafted him for that reason, needing a player with a scorer’s mentality and finding an extremely talented one in the middle of the first round.
Orlando fans already loved Anthony for his attitude. He lived and died for his teammates and constantly put his guys over while learning the league. He had the right mix of individual flare while still being about the team.
But this? This was his moment.
Nobody will probably remember our top game of the 2021 season for the 20-point comeback that Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter and R.J. Hampton led to knock off a game Memphis Grizzlies team. It will always come down to that shot — and the legendary walk-off interview that followed.
The ball inbounded to Anthony curling to the top of the key. The dribble moves he put on Kyle Anderson to shake him and create a little bit of space. The bravado to go for three when a two would have sent the game to overtime.
This is the kind of audacious play that endears a player to fans. Of course, Anthony was going to hit the shot. Of course, he was going to go for the win. Of course, he was going to deliver.
Magic fans were already in a tanking mode. But this is the exact kind of win the Magic wanted to have at this point of the season. They needed to see their young players step up and show they can deliver for the team in crucial situations.
Anthony scored 26 to go with his game-winner. R.J. Hampton had 18 points off the bench and was a crucial part of the team’s comeback efforts in the second half.
This will not be the team the Magic want to be as a final product. But they needed to see them perform with the stakes raised. They delivered this game.
And no win pointed more toward the team’s future than this one. It was a memorable and needed performance.