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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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Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, LA Clippers
Paolo Banchero sank several clutch free throws as the Orlando Magic’s defense helped them secure a win over the LA Clippers. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /

Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season

8. The streak begins — vs. LA Clippers (Dec. 7)

111. 77. 116. 38. Final/OT

The Orlando Magic were as low as they could be in early December. They were on a nine-game losing streak and sitting at 5-20.

Their hopes for the season were all but dashed. And even as they started to get healthier — both Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony were back by this point but Wendell Carter was sitting out with a plantar fascia issue — they still had a long way to go to come together.

The first thing they needed was a win. And that was not even coming easily.

The Orlando Magic found themselves down by 16 points to the LA Clippers on this December day. It felt like another defeat was coming and another early homestand would get wasted. Any hope of doing anything more than scrounging at the bottom of the standings — even with Paolo Banchero.

It felt like a lost season.

This is where so many of the seeds of what made this Magic season successful started to get planted. It started with the resiliency to stick with things and slowly cut into that deficit. Orlando would fight its way back into the game.

The Magic would win. They got it to overtime and then dominated the final period to break their nine-game losing streak. And then catapult it to starting their own six-game win streak. That saved the season and gave the Magic belief and footing to grow and expand.

Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 23 points with Moe Wagner, starting for Wendell Carter and Mo Bamba, had 20 points and Bol Bol also scored 20. The most important stat was the Magic won.

And they needed it really bad.