Orlando Magic’s 5 best options to hit the game-winner

Orlando Magic’s best options to close

Jalen Suggs

There was a bit of alpha posturing at the end of the Orlando Magic’s Summer League win over the Golden State Warriors.

The Magic had worked their way back into the game thanks to a flurry of buckets from Jalen Suggs, including a 3-pointers. The rookie was wowing everyone as the game came nearer to an end.

Sophomore guard and late-game hero Cole Anthony was struggling for much of the game. But he has a short memory and a penchant for big moments. He sensed what time it was. And this was going to be his moment.

On two consecutive possessions, Anthony missed opportunities to win the game, missing a shot on one and turning the ball on the other. From there, it was clear who was the best player on that team and who was going to be the engine for the Magic at least in Summer League.

And yes, one of those turnovers led to the 2-on-1 fast break that Suggs sniffed out and recorded a block to force overtime — a play that was incredible beyond the fact it came from a rookie guard.

Suggs ended up scoring all but two points in overtime (most of them coming from the foul line). He staked his claim to the clutch minutes and moments. And he will surely get those opportunities.

After all, Suggs’ marquee moment in college was a buzzer-beating shot. His half-court winner against UCLA in the Final Four is something that will be replayed in basketball highlights reels for all time. Suggs is already a history maker in that sense.

But it is something more than that too.

Suggs’ full-season averages do not look great because Gonzaga was in so many blowout games. They dominated the West Coast Conference as they went undefeated until the national championship game.

But in the games that were close, Suggs stepped up.

Suggs scored just four points to go with six rebounds and five assists in just his third game of the season, an 87-82 win over West Virginia. But after that, Suggs stepped up when his team needed him. He was the guy the team turned to when the games were tight.

He scored 23 points to go with five rebounds and five assists in an 88-78 win over BYU to win the WCC tournament. Suggs scored eight points and dished out one assist in the final five minutes as a tie game turned into a 10-point win.

In the NCAA Tournament, Suggs had 16 points, five rebounds and six assists in the win over UCLA. He scored two points, dished out two assists and had a block in the final five minutes of regulation to erase a three-point deficit and get to overtime. In overtime, he scored the game-winning 3-pointer from half-court.

There is obviously going to be more trial and error for him. Gonzaga did not play enough close games to draw too many conclusions. But the Magic are going to put the ball in Suggs’ hands late in games and trust him to make decisions to score or pass. And he is more than capable of doing that.

At the end of the day, if the Magic envision Suggs as their star, the ball needs to be in his hands at the end of games. The hope is he can be this kind of player. And there is nothing to suggest he will not be who the team turns to for a play late in games.