The Orlando Magic lost in the box score against the Boston Celtics, but they actually won with the way the team’s young players performed in the first preseason game of the season.
There is no such thing as moral victories in the regular season, but preseason is a different story.
This game was about building off the things the team had been working on through training camp and looking bought into what the team is trying to do. In the team’s first public display, the Magic got fans plenty excited about what is to come.
The Orlando Magic may have lost the game after pulling their rotation players, but they displayed plenty of potential and excitement in their preseason debut on the court.
No one should draw conclusions after a preseason game — let alone a sometimes sloppy and clearly rusty first preseason game — but one thing that was clear after the Magic and Celtics finished up was that this team is very different and potentially very fun.
This is not the slowed-down Magic of the last few years or one that is going to go into its shell. Mistakes will be made but they are going to burst out and impress in plenty of moments.
Rookie Jalen Suggs has brought the logo three-pointer to Orlando. He knocked down a step-back logo three in the second quarter, cleaning up a broken possession. He followed that play with back-to-back blocks in the third quarter on two consecutive defensive positions.
Suggs finished the game with nine points, three rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
The logo threes rubbed off on Cole Anthony too. He hit a logo three of his own early in the fourth quarter with the shot-clock winding down. Anthony shot the ball well from the field. He knocked down 50 percent of his shot attempts and four of seven from the three-point line.
Orlando’s big men came to play as well.
Both Mohamed Bamba and Moritz Wagner were instant offense off the bench. Bamba looked the best he has looked physically in a Magic uniform. He displayed his all-around game with a killer shooting touch.
The big man was the only Orlando player to notch a double-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.
The older Wagner also had a stellar game. He knocked down four of seven three-point attempts. Wagner displayed his signature offensive versatility in a Magic uniform.
Wendell Carter had his usual solid game of 10 points and eight rebounds. It will be interesting to see how the Magic distributes the center minutes going into the regular season with all three making their mark — and Robin Lopez not even getting into the game.
Orlando started a lineup of Jalen Suggs, Gary Harris, Terrence Ross, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter.
The younger Wagner got the start at power forward but he is still not scoring or shooting the ball well, carrying over struggles from Summer League. He is still doing the little things, like playing good defense and making the extra pass.
Wagner is not a box-score-type player.
It was surprising to see Ross starting since he has been coming off the bench for the last three years in Orlando. He got the Magic started offensively with the team’s first bucket. However, he did not have a good shooting game with five points on two of nine shooting from the field.
The Magic’s starting rotation will be more clear once Chuma Okeke returns from injury and eventually Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz. But Orlando went toe-toe with Boston’s regular rotational players and had the lead until midway through the fourth quarter.
The Celtics played their star players until the fourth quarter and the Magic emptied out their bench with five minutes remaining in regulation and a five-point lead. That is when Boston took the lead and eventually closed out the game thanks to a Romeo Langford go-ahead three-pointer with 14.2 seconds left.
The Magic have a lot to build from this game. Its roster is young but very deep with immense promise.
Grades
Jalen Suggs – B
Jalen Suggs certainly had some nerves. He looked hesitant to shoot on his first attempt and then proceeded to airball it. That did not shake his confidence. Suggs is not one to be afraid. But he definitely got some learning lessons with Marcus Smart going after the rookie.
Suggs still found his pockets to score nine points. He made only 3 of 11 shots. He hit a couple of long-range 3-pointer and got active in the paint with a series of a few blocks. Certainly, the nerves will wear off. And Suggs showed plenty to remain excited about.
Cole Anthony – A-
Cole Anthony has spoken publicly about his frustrations with his Summer League run. He knows he did not play well. His shooting certainly suggested that. And so this was a game where Anthony proved a lot about himself. Especially in the second half when he did the majority of his scoring.
Anthony finished the night with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. He hit 4 of 7 3-pointers and 6 of 12 shots overall. Anthony took a charge too and looked more active and engaged defensively. Anthony still had some struggles finishing around the basket, but he was more than capable to hit from the outside.
Mohamed Bamba – A
Mohamed Bamba has a lot riding on this season. Everyone senses it. And Bamba has always been one to fill up a stat sheet when given the chance. He is far from perfect or a clear-cut starter, but Monday’s preseason debut was a good sign of a lot of things.
Bamba scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds with another four blocks on top of that. Bamba had a few finishes around the basket, but he still seemed more comfortable on the perimeter. His defense though seemed more sure of itself and confident. Bamba had something he could build on.
R.J. Hampton – A-
R.J. Hampton is great in the open floor. If anyone needs proof of that, Monday’s game should help. He took up space really well and looked confident playing off the ball in a way that he did not for much of his time with the magic last season. Hampton was under control and still getting to the basket when he wanted.
Hampton finished with seven points on 3-for-7 shooting, adding six rebounds for good measure. It was not an impressive stat line in the end, but Hampton was key to the Magic staying in the game in the first quarter and gave the team a lot of energy early on.
Boston Celtics – B
The Boston Celtics ended up pulling the game out thanks to their rotation players defeating the Orlando Magic’s G-League-level players. The result is not really what matters. The Celtics are a veteran enough team that they are not going to worry too much about themselves as long as they show signs of who they are.
Jaylen Brown certainly did that in his first game back from a wrist injury, scoring 25 points on 8-for-16 shooting, making four 3-pointers. Jayson Tatum got his work in with 18 points too. Boston’s defense was a bit loose, giving up 17 of 42 shooting from deep. But the Celtics got their work in.
The Orlando Magic continue their preseason on Wednesday in New Orleans against the New Orleans Pelicans.