Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic find their grit to win third in a row

Cole Anthony joked on social media after the fact that he could see his life flash before his eyes as he went to block a Gary Trent layup only for Trent to stay firmly planted in the ground.

Anthony fell head over heels on top of Trent landing with a thud on the floor before looking up to make sure everyone was OK. Probably most importantly himself.

That was the kind of commitment this Magic team knows it is going to take to win games. They need to be willing to sacrifice their bodies in a major way.

So it was no surprise that a few possessions later, Anthony found himself on the ground again, this time taking a bump, falling face-first toward the court and somehow flipping a shot over his head into the basket.

It is OK to be lucky if you are playing well. And right now the Magic are playing well.

For the second time against the Toronto Raptors, the Orlando Magic again seemed to take it right to the Raptors, willing to match their physicality and play their game. Orlando shook off whatever pressure Toronto threw at it and made the plays.

The Orlando Magic again showed their grit and determination as they picked up their third straight win by defeating the Toronto Raptors.

The Magic figured out how to break down the Raptors and took a 111-99 victory at the Amway Center for their third straight win. That is perhaps the most impressive element.

This time it came in an ugly defensive battle that saw the Magic breakthrough with a few pockets of good shooting. They rode the backs of stars Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero at key moments to keep the Raptors at an arm’s length. And they got major contributions from Mo Bamba and Cole Anthony.

Orlando was not only committed to the gameplan but stuck to it and stayed in control throughout the entire game. Toronto did not come back as they did Friday night. This was as complete of a game as the Magic have played all season.

And that is probably what the team is most proud of.

They won this game despite the Raptors’ ability to muck it up and make it feel ugly. They stuck to it despite their poor shooting and growing frustration over their fouling. That is something that goes well beyond their years and experience.

At least for now, it feels like the Magic have put some pieces together and have found a confidence and swagger needed to win.

Player Grades

Franz Wagner – B+

Franz Wagner gets the All-Star treatment now. Look no further than the way the Toronto Raptors tried to defend him.

They sent double teams at him and tried to trap him on every screen and roll. And Wagner diligently made the right play. Absorbing the double team while still giving him enough space to find Mo Bamba at the free throw line to play 4-on-3 and make a good decision.

That is what the Raptors ultimately wanted and the Magic still made them pay. Eventually, Wagner would have to find his way to score. And, boy, did he.

Wagner finished with 23 points on 6-for-14 shooting. He scored 18 in the second half, hitting some big 3-pointers and shots throughout the third and fourth quarters to give the Magic some breathing room.

Wagner consistently plays at his pace. It was perhaps the most impressive thing about his pair of games against the Raptors. They never could speed him up and he just made the right play, waiting for his opportunity to put the foot down.

Paolo Banchero – B+

Similarly, Paolo Banchero has done well to wait for his opportunity and find his spots to score before stepping up at the biggest moments. The Toronto Raptors also treated him as a star, sending hard doubles on him when he caught the ball in the post and sending often a third player in his line of sight to try to wall off the paint.

Banchero struggled at times with that added attention. He does not have the experience that Wagner has — both are still prone to youthful mistakes. But his ability to make plays through that attention is impressive for a player his age.

Then in the fourth quarter, Banchero made some game-sealing baskets over the defense off the dribble. The exact kind of shot the Magic have been dreaming for from a ball handler for nearly two decades it seems.

Banchero finished with 20 points on 6-for-14 shooting with 12 rebounds and five assists. It is the rebounding that should get special notice. Banchero has been much more focused and attentive on the defensive end and on the glass. That is a big reason for the Magic’s surge too.

Mo Bamba – A+

The difference for the Orlando Magic in the last three games has been the team getting some help from unexpected areas. Whether that is Moe Wagner in the starting lineup, good spot minutes from Kevon Harris (he has been very good, especially on defense) or from Cole Anthony (more on him again here).

This game was Mo Bamba’s turn. And the Magic would not have won this game — or won it as easily — without Bamba’s contributions.

Bamba scored 18 points, making all six of his shots, and adding nine rebounds and a pair of blocks. Bamba was active finding pockets to score and hit 3-pointers in the second quarter at a time when neither team was making shots at a particularly good rate.

But Mo Bamba’s bigger impact came on the defensive end where he changed several shots — including a crazy block on Chris Boucher that led to a backbreaking Franz Wagner 3-pointer — and was a force on the glass.

That was his biggest weakness during the Magic’s losing streak. Like Paolo Banchero, he has put more focus on that end and it has paid off for the team.

Cole Anthony – A

Similarly, Cole Anthony has played with a lot more energy as he has gotten far more comfortable with his role coming off the bench for this team.

Anthony was solid running the show and finding his pockets to score. He scored 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting with six rebounds and six assists. With Markelle Fultz in foul trouble, Cole Anthony became all the more important to organize and guide the team.

He did that exceptionally well in this game. His best plays were the energy plays like the two described above or one where he literally ripped the ball out of a player’s hands in transition as they were gathering and started a fast break on the other end.

Anthony is starting to feel more comfortable with the freedom he has coming off the bench and things are clicking well for him. He gave the team the needed push and offensive drumbeat they needed to stay in front.

The Orlando Magic are back in action Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks as they close their homestand.