It is understandable that the mood was dour after the Orlando Magic’s 116-114 overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The ball was in their hands several times to extend the game and the bounces would not go their way.
The Magic executed a trap on the perimeter of Joel Embiid perfectly only to see the superstar whip the pass over to Tobias Harris for a three as Mo Bamba was late to close out after crashing the lane. Cole Anthony had a go-ahead shot blocked by Matisse Thybulle. Franz Wagner missed a game-tying free throw with about thirty seconds to play in overtime.
And then there was Anthony missing a difficult 3-pointer off a broken play as the Magic tried desperately to win the game at the overtime buzzer.
This was a game the Magic had in their grasps. They know they missed out on plays they needed to make it. They know they are so close to get over the hump.
The Orlando Magic are starting to compete more and embrace their style as they put the league on notice with another tough outing.
That is where this team’s defiant streak comes in. This is where this young team feels the presence of something building. Where they clearly see all their hard work is trending things in the right direction. Where they see the beginnings of a successful rebuild that they have had to buy in with little reward since.
The Magic hoped to see the outlines of their identity by the end of the season. And so Anthony issued his warning. This team is coming. They are figuring things out and they are competing at an entirely new level. The Magic are no longer a young pushover, they are a team figuring things out and quickly.
"“We’re all hungry,” Anthony said after Sunday’s loss. “We’ve gone through a bulk of the season losing a lot of games. I think we’re really learning how to play with each other. As you can see, we’re hungry. This is a game that easily could have fallen our way. Sometimes the ball isn’t going to bounce your way. But we’re hungry, we’re here.”"
The Magic showed that in controlling the majority of their game against the 76ers, building as much as a 17-point lead in the first half behind some sweet ball movement, 3-point shooting and killer defense.
Wendell Carter did a fantastic job standing up Joel Embiid, holding him to 9-for-28 shooting (he still got his 35 points because he is an MVP candidate, but it was not easy). Embiid found he was not able to move Carter off his spot and created an intriguing battle between the two even as the Magic started sending different double-team packages his way.
Orlando always seemed to have Philadelphia off-balance. The Magic ended the game with a 111.5 defensive rating. It is hardly the number the Magic have posted since the All-Star Break, but still at least the team’s average (20th in the league) against one of the best offensive teams in the league. Certainly a team with some potent offensive weapons.
The Magic got a huge boost from their bench too.
It was Chuma Okeke scoring 10 of his 13 points in the first half, including three 3-pointers for the game as the team built its lead. Okeke proved a valuable defender too as the Magic tried to swarm Embiid and get the ball out of his hands.
Markelle Fultz stepped on the floor and again seemed to provide an instant spark. He scored eight points and dished out a season-high 11 assists. He also hit back-to-back 3-pointers, including a step-back three as his confidence continues to grow.
It was not just them.
Even though the starters largely gave away the lead in the third quarter and then struggled with fouling to put a damper on an otherwise solid defensive performance, they made big play after big play.
Carter stood tall against Embiid with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Anthony hit several big shots — three in overtime — for 19 points, salvaging a 4-for-12 shooting performance. It was a refreshing burst from a player who has struggled for a long time.
Jalen Suggs had 10 points and six assists, doing a good job pushing the pace and trying to get the Magic up the court in a hurry.
But what was still so noticeable was the team’s fight and how they found their groove. This team has started to sink its teeth in its identity based on its defense and its ability to get up the court quickly. Teams are starting to learn the Magic are not a pushover and they should be taken lightly at their own expense.
"“That locker room is about as tied together a group as I have seen,” coach Jamahl Mosley said after Sunday’s loss. “They continue to fight for one another and battle for one another throughout the game. Our assistant coaches do a phenomenal job of preparing them for the game and getting them ready to go and play. You see that tonight with what they’ve done. Understanding we have been down times before, we’ve been up, they stay resilient in the face of that because they stay tied together with one another.”"
Nobody though will say they are satisfied with this. Especially now that the team is playing its best basketball and starting to build that confidence.
The Magic are doing a lot of good things and they are putting themselves in a position to win more and more. But there is still work to do.
In the fourth quarter and overtime, Embiid especially took over as everything centered around him. The Magic had very little they could do to stop him. Star power is still star power.
Still, every situation is important for a young team. The Magic are still learning how to close games. This is the hump the team is still working to get over consistently.
But this is still a critical step.
"“We see ourselves being in this position a lot,” Carter said after Sunday’s loss. “A season like this, I feel like it is good we’re going into these games and giving ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter. It’s important. We’re going to be in these positions a lot. We’re going to win some, we’re going to lose some. The fact that we’re in these positions is a good thing for sure.”"
It is no doubt, the Magic might have lost this game easily earlier in the season. The Magic have always had that resilient streak to bounce back. But it would often come when they were already down 20 points and out of the game.
Orlando has needed to get these late-game reps. But the team also needed to learn how to bounce back and keep their composure. The fact the Magic are giving themselves more chances to win is certainly a sign of progress.
And that is still what this season is about. They are about trying to get better.
That is what a game like Sunday’s meant.
Orlando still has a ways to go. That much is clear. But this team is getting closer and closer to what it wants to be. And they can feel it.
"“This team has a long way to go,” Anthony said after Sunday’s loss. “I think we’ve made a lot of progress. The beautiful part about this is we have a lot more progress to make. Everybody on this team is bought in, we’re all hungry and we all want to get better.”"
The grind will continue. The work will continue.
And losses like this one will continue to sting. But everyone within the Magic can see what the team is trying to build. It is becoming more apparent on the court too. And that is as much as anyone could ask for.