Orlando Magic Daily
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The top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Paolo Banchero has turned in a stellar rookie year. But the Orlando Magic need him to break through a rookie wall to make a postseason push. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Paolo Banchero has turned in a stellar rookie year. But the Orlando Magic need him to break through a rookie wall to make a postseason push. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 16: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic congratulates Franz Wagner #22 while Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics stands on the court during the game at TD Garden on December 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /

Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season

1. Slap in the face — at Boston Celtics (Dec. 16 and Dec. 18)

Final. 117. 38. 109. 18

18. Final. 95. 38. 92

This series was not about anything Eddie House said — perhaps a prophetic thing with how the Boston Celtics struggled to put away the Atlanta Hawks and then lost Game 1 at home to the Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers. House’s comments disparaging the Orlando Magic to criticize the Boston Celtics’ lack of focus certainly energized the weekend in Boston.

The young Magic players certainly took offense to what the former NBA guard said. And Magic fans reveled in the renewal of the rivalry at least to crack open the GIF of Rafer Alston slapping him in Game 1 of their 2009 series.

That is all the external stuff. The stuff that mattered was this was the point when the team and the fans really started to believe.

These were wins Nos. 5 and 6 of the Orlando Magic’s six-game win streak (they would lose the win streak in a close loss to the Atlanta Hawks on the back end of a back-to-back). It was a capper to a team that was coming out of the dark times and finding themselves.

These were the wins that would give the team the momentum to keep growing. Proof the Magic could win and compete against the best (never mind Jayson Tatum missed the second game for his son’s birthday).

Paolo Banchero scored 20 points in the first game with Moe Wagner giving the tam a huge boost with 25 points. In the second game, Banchero had 31 points.

That second game was the more impressive of the two because of how grimy and ugly the game was. Even without Tatum playing.

The Magic had to lean on their defense for the first time and it came through for them to score a win.

It was just impressive to go into Boston and sweep this pair of games. Especially with how good the Celtics were. The team was rolling at this point and playing confidently. And that confidence never really dissipated.

Next. 3 Magic players who would have excelled in the Playoffs. dark

This weekend showed the Magic they can compete with anybody and play any style. And that is incredibly empowering for a young team as they go through the course of their season.