Wednesday night was a good one for the Orlando Magic, as they snapped a nine-game losing streak by defeating the L.A. Clippers in overtime at the Amway Center.
A timely win that highlighted some of what is good about this Magic roster in clawing their way out of an early 21-6 hole to eventually carve out the win. Head coach Jamahl Mosley’s big-picture plan for the group was on full display as well.
The Magic are starting to come together a bit more clearly now that they are healthier. While they are still waiting for Wendell Carter’s vital return and while Jalen Suggs and Chuma Okeke still deal with nagging injuries, this is as healthy as the team has looked. Soon that adjustment period to all the new pieces entering the lineup will end.
Pretty soon Orlando is going to be able to get a better evaluation of its roster.
In order to keep winning games the Orlando Magic need help from all corners of their roster, and these three players are ready for a bigger role right now.
The temptation to put Cole Anthony on this list was strong. After Markelle Fultz’s slow outing against the Clippers — he finished with a single point and four assists in 28 minutes — it may make sense to see if Cole Anthony can be the starting floor general for this group. Orlando is clearly committed to letting Fultz work his way back though as Mosley stuck with him to close the game.
But for now, we are sticking with players more on the fringes, with Anthony still thought of as a core piece of what this organization is trying to build.
The games continue to come thick and fast, and the Orlando Magic play the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics twice each in four of their next five.
Here are the individuals who will be looking to stake their claim for more minutes, at a time when the Magic are going to be going into games as firm underdogs.