The Orlando Magic return home for a quick matchup with the undermanned Phoenix Suns as they try to get some momentum for the end of the season.
Orlando Magic (16-49) vs. Phoenix Suns (51-13)
Time/TV: 7 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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Line via WynnBet: Suns by 6
Tickets: $15-$717 on StubHub
2022 Season Series: Suns 132, Magic 105 in Phoenix on Feb. 12; Tonight in Orlando
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | 99.9 | 113.8 | 106.1 | 54.7 | 26.3 | 12.9 | 22.7 |
| Orlando | 99.7 | 103.9 | 111.9 | 50.2 | 25.0 | 14.7 | 22.5 |
OMD Prediction
The story of this game between the Phoenix Suns and the Orlando Magic is probably more about how is out than who is in. Chris Paul is still out with the broken right thumb. Devin Booker is out in the league’s health and safety protocols. Cameron Johnson, fresh off a game-winning basket in Friday’s win over the New York Knicks, is out too.
The Orlando Magic will get Wendell Carter back. And Markelle Fultz is set to play this game and sit out Wednesday’s game in New Orleans. But Jalen Suggs remains a gametime decision with a sprained right ankle. He did not participate in the team’s shootaround Tuesday morning.
So again, it is anybody’s guess how this will go. Orlando will still likely limit Fultz’s minutes. And at this point, the backcourt of R.J. Hampton and Cole Anthony is a bit of a wildcard. Adding more to it, Ignas Brazdeikis and Admiral Schofield are both listed as out to be with the Lakeland Magic.
The experimenting will continue. But this may well be a shorthanded Magic roster.
If the Orlando Magic play defense and limit fast breaks as they did against the Toronto Raptors, Orlando has a real chance to steal one of the best team in the league.
3 Keys To Watch
2 Fast, 2 Furious
The Orlando Magic are a team playing at a much faster pace of late. They are getting out in transition a whole lot more and getting more fast-break points. It is hardly perfect yet. The Magic’s offense still ranks near the bottom in almost every category. But the raw numbers are certainly a bit better. The team is moving in a better direction.
But this game will be more about their transition defense. The Phoenix Suns are a team that likes to push the pace too — even with the typically more methodical Chris Paul manning the helm. Still, Phoenix gets its spots in transition, averaging 12.2 fast-break points per game.
In Orlando’s last two games, the difference against two of the better transition teams in the league came down to fast-break points. The Toronto Raptors (season average of 15.2 fastbreak points per game) scored 16 in the Orlando Magic’s win. The Memphis Grizzlies (season average of 17.1 fastbreak points per game) had 34 in their blowout win.
Orlando is still learning how to manage itself at a faster pace. Turnovers remain a constant tug and pull. But the Magic are starting to figure out how to control the pace to their liking more. And that will remain a big part of this game.
Rise of Ayton
The Phoenix Suns center their offense around Chris Paul’s meticulous deconstruction of a defense and constant control of the game and then around Devin Booker’s explosive scoring ability. Paul provides little jabs and death by a thousand pinpricks. Booker comes in throws the haymaker with transition dimes and threes that bury opponents.
With both out, the attention will turn to Deandre Ayton, who is often the forgotten cog of Phoenix’s success. This is not just about the Suns’ still-foolish decision not to extend their center. That will be something Phoenix will surely remedy in the offseason with the season Ayton is having.
Ayton is averaging 16.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this season. But his impact is even greater than that. This is a big opportunity for Ayton to step up with so many of the Suns’ perimeter weapons down. And neutralizing his impact on the glass will be at the heart of the Orlando Magic’s strategy.
Cole and Kelle Together
Cole Anthony’s struggles since that blazing start to the season are well documented. There are plenty of questions now for Anthony to answer about his future with the team. And he may be facing a role change as the Magic move onto next season. Anthony has precious little time to prove his spot on the roster.
But the first place to start is to show how well he integrates with the team. And that starts with playing alongside Markelle Fultz, now that he is back.
This was a pairing Steve Clifford tried a bit last season too. The two players played 15 minutes together with a net rating of -27.5 points per 100 possessions and an offensive rating of 78.8 points per 100 possessions. This year, they have played 11 minutes together to a +4.0 net rating and an offensive rating of 100.0 points per 100 possessions.
It is safe to say it is too early to draw any conclusions n that pairing. Although the offense with Fultz still is not nearly as good as you would expect considering the hype and excitement around Fultz’s return.
Part of the experimenting the Magic want to do with their lineups will surely involve playing these two together. And if Jalen Suggs is unable to play (he has yet to share the court with Markelle Fultz), that will force these two to play together.
Figuring out if this pairing works well together will be a big data point for the magic to bring to the offseason. And Orlando should focus on trying these two out as much as the team can.