The Orlando Magic are beaming about their season.
It has been a long time since the franchise has felt this kind of positivity about heading into their offseason. Sure there were moments when the team seemed about ready to break through and there were even a few playoff appearances, but it never felt like this.
The certainty and openness about which this young team is talking about both the games it left on the table this season and its ambition to make the postseason next year is something very different.
Having the Rookie of the Year will do that. But so too will the growth that has been seen from several players throughout the roster. They know what they accomplished this season is truly something to build on — a 29-28 finish to the season after starting 5-20 with tons of injuries.
It certainly feels like Orlando has a bright future.
The Orlando Magic had a great season where they showed a ton of growth. The team had a lot of moments throughout the season that stood out as among the best.
That, as evidenced by that record, is not simply about the feeling the team has. It is very much about the record and the games that got built. Everyone in Orlando is excited about this team and this group because they showed it to us on the court.
For the first time in a while, we are not going to be scrounging for 10 memorable games. Or accepting moral victories as solid games (do not expect a lot of losses on this list).
The Magic are starting to become a winning outfit. Winning certainly became more of a habit this year.
There will be many more moments to celebrate. And there are certainly games this year that should leave the Magic still hungry to improve. Nobody is resting on their laurels after a 12-win improvement and a 34-win season.
But there were a lot of games that stood out this season. So here it is, as part of our season recap, our top-10 games of the 2023 season.
Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season
10. Do It By Committee — vs. Brooklyn Nets (March 26) & vs. Detroit Pistons (April 2)
Throughout the entire year, coach Jamahl Mosley preached his team would play by committee. They would share the ball and move the ball. It was never going to be about one person.
Sure, Paolo Banchero was scoring a lot of points. But he wanted an offense that preached togetherness and kept things moving whether that is player movement or ball movement.
What was impressive about how the season progressed is how the team improved its offense and got better. The team got more confident and capable.
This was a young team that made mistakes. They lost games they should not have. They struggled at times to find that consistency. But they started to put it all together late in the season.
Two games stood out at the end of the year and deserve to be grouped together.
The Orlando Magic started their final season kick with a 119-106 blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets. They counteracted a 44-point game from Mikal Bridges with 30 assists on 45 field goals. Cole Anthony led the team in scoring 21 points, but the team had eight players in double figures.
This game was truly by committee.
The fact they did it again in a few weeks with a 30-assist performance in a blowout win over the Detroit Pistons only cemented the gains they made. They again put eight players in double figures — led by Jalen Suggs’ 18 points off the bench.
In front of an odd but earned Sunday sellout crowd against the worst team in the league, the Magic got to celebrate this team in a major way. Everyone got to eat — even Michael Carter-Williams, making his season debut after signing on late in the season.
This was the ideal.
No team is going to win at the highest levels with such balanced scoring. But the Magic said they wanted to do things by committee. They wanted everyone to contribute and add something. And this is what Orlando got in these two games to cap off their season.
Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season
9. Game Winners — at Chicago Bulls (Nov. 18) & vs. Detroit Pistons (Feb. 23)
Sometimes a game can get distilled into a single moment. That is what stands out to everyone and something that lives on. Never mind how you go there, one moment defines everything. And makes that game memorable and feel important.
Wins all count the same regardless of how they happen. But game-winning shots are special — the reason why there remains resistance to ideas like the Elam Ending. Who can blame them with how much fun game-winning shots the Magic had.
Orlando had two buzzer-beaters that stood out throughout the season. It was a rough moment to get there, but the team stood up and made big plays under clutch situations.
The first came in Chicago with Jalen Suggs bailing the Magic out after Nikola Vucevic missed two free throws, hitting a cold-blooded three that felt very much like the big shots he hit at Gonzaga a few years ago.
Suggs has had a rough start to his career for sure. He struggled with injuries through much of his first two years. His offensive game seemed to have left him as he struggled to find his footing in the league. His defense was at least reliable.
But he had several games where his offense stood out. And specifically his clutch play (stay tuned for that).
This is one of the brightest moments of his career. Suggs got the rebound after Vucevic’s missed free throws and hit a step-back three over the scrambling Bulls defense. It was just a gutsy and impressive moment.
The same could be said for Wendell Carter’s game-winner in February against the Detroit Pistons.
The Magic had lost their lead but had the ball in a tie game trying to hold onto the lead. Paolo Banchero drove the lane and missed his shot, but Wendell Carter (and Markelle Fultz) came flying in for the putback. Carter got to it first and beat the buzzer for the win.
Both of these moments were a sign of the Magic’s growing poise in the midst of chaos. In both instances, the Magic lost leads in the fourth quarter and had to scramble to preserve the win. They showed their youth in their inability to hold onto these leads.
But they bounced back to score the win in the end. And provide a moment we will not forget from this season.
Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season
8. The streak begins — vs. LA Clippers (Dec. 7)
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.
Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season
7. 50-Point Quarter — vs. Atlanta Hawks (Dec. 14)
The Orlando Magic were not known as an offensive team this year. In fact, they were still one of the worst offensive teams in the entire league. That comes from a lot of young players, a lot of poor shooting and a lack of depth.
Still, this is an offensive league. Everyone has a good day. And when there is a good day in this modern NBA, teams can have a really good day.
Even the Orlando Magic.
The Magic had a day to close out their December homestand and continue to build what would become a season-long six-game win streak. The Atlanta Hawks were done after 12 minutes (not really, they did cut the lead down to four before the Orlando Magic pulled away for an easy win).
Orlando scored a franchise-record 50 points in the first quarter, inking the 50-point quarter on the final possession to hit that magical mark. It was an incredible game.
Whether that was Bol Bol putting on perhaps the best individual highlight of the season or just the constant scoring from the team, it was just a fun night.
Franz Wagner had 24 points, Paolo Banchero had 20 and Bol Bol had 20 to pace this balanced offensive game. The Magic hit 16 of 36 3-pointers.
This was just a hot night for the team and a fun historic evening for a young team that was brimming with confidence and coming into its own. There may not have been a better offensive game than this one for the Magic.
Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season
6. Comeback in Philly — at Philadelphia 76ers (Jan. 30)
NBA seasons are long. A lot is going to happen in the course of a year. Every team is going to blow somebody out just as they are going to suffer blowout losses. Every team is going to blow a big lead and lose just as they are going to come back and win.
The regular season is about finding the level. It is about finding what you are good at every night and riding the highs and lows from there.
The Magic had a lot of each. But one of the high water marks came in their comeback wins. They had their share of them. And many of them on the road.
A wild come-from-behind victory at the Houston Rockets early in the season showed what the Orlando Magic were capable of. But no win probably matched the excitement and energy of beating the Philadelphia 76ers on the road with all their star power — especially after the 76ers embarrassed the Magic at home over Thanksgiving with back-to-back blowout wins without Joel Embiid.
They had Joel Embiid and James Harden for this one. They took a 21-point lead in the second quarter. And the Magic had to work their way back into the game.
Paolo Banchero scored 29 points. Moe Wagner came off the bench for 22 points as he continued a run of strong bench performances as his role started to increase. Orlando scored 42 points in the third quarter to get back into the game and outscored Philadelphia 67-47.
The defense was the big reason why the team climbed back into this one. And that is such a difficult thing for young teams to understand.
Orlando had the sixth-best defensive rating at 113.0 points per 100 possessions after Dec. 7. This was a sign of how the Magic’s defense could keep them in games.
This was a landmark win and felt like it at the time too. The fact Orlando competed in the return match with Philadelphia a few days later — with a much angrier Embiid and Harden playing — was a sign the team was turning a corner where it could compete with everyone.
Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season
5. Weird Streak — vs. Golden State Warriors (Nov. 3)
This is still one of the weirdest winning streaks in the NBA.
The Golden State Warriors have not won at the Amway Center since 2018. The Orlando Magic seem to have the perennial championship contender’s number at the Amway Center. Orlando did get a rare sweep of Golden State this year (thanks to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson sitting out the game in San Francisco, it was still a rare home loss at Chase Center).
The game at the Amway Center though was a much-needed reprieve for a young Magic team in the middle of its injuries and a long losing stretch. And the way Orlando pulled out the win in front of a raucous and eager sell-out crowd at the Amway Center was extremely special.
Once again, Jalen Suggs proved his clutch bona fides. Just as he would do in Chicago a few weeks later.
Suggs hit several big shots down the stretch to give the Magic the lead. Then he ripped Stephen Curry twice to get key stops at the end of the game. This was his game to shine and gain confidence. If he ever lost it.
Suggs scored 26 points and dished out nine assists in a rare start for him this year. He had four steals as he continued to build his defensive reputation. Paolo Banchero scored 22 points. And Chuma Okeke continued to dominate Golden State with 16 points in perhaps his best game of the season.
The Warriors left Orlando heaping a lot of praise on the young team the Magic were building. They knew they had some bad history in the Amway Center but Draymond Green noted this group felt different.
The Magic were not the team they would become quite yet. They were still too injured and struggling to put together a functioning roster. But even the elite teams could see what the magic were building and how dangerous it would be in a very short time period.
This was proof the Magic were on the right track if they kept at it.
Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season
4. JI Returns — vs. Boston Celtics (Jan. 23)
By mid-January, it was not even certain if this day would come. When this day came, it was still very uncertain what Jonathan Isaac would even look like. It was all just a mystery.
But as the news came out that Isaac would indeed make his return and play in his first game since August 2020, everyone was curious to see what Isaac would do. Anything the Magic got from Isaac it would seem would be a bonus. Even if it was just the moment of celebration that he was back on the court.
So what Orlando got from Isaac in his first game back was a complete shock. It was a pleasant surprise. It was encouraging and exciting. It seemed to make the wait worth it to get that moment, even for as limited as Isaac was.
Isaac scored 10 points in 9:36 of action with his extreme minute restriction for his first games back. But all the moments and things that made Isaac special were hinted at for expansion.
He hit a pull-up jumper and attacked the basket with gusto, using his size and strength to make an impact. He switched to smaller defenders and smothered players. The highlight of his game was getting a steal and following it up with a 3-pointer for good measure.
This was everything Isaac and the Magic could have asked for and more.
In the 11 games that Isaac played, he made a wild impact defensively. He continued to look like an all-defensive team player in his limited minutes. And everyone was eager to see his role continue to expand.
Unfortunately, this would be just a cameo. He suffered another setback and was shut down for the season fairly quickly after he needed surgery. The hope is he will be ready for camp and hopefully with fewer restrictions for a critical season for his career as he tries to end his comeback.
Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season
3. The Best of Paolo — at Detroit Pistons (Oct. 19) & at New Orleans Pelicans (Feb. 27)
The Orlando Magic’s season was still about Paolo Banchero.
As nice as everything else was, this season was about exploring Banchero’s game and figuring out what the best way to build around him. The season’s story was about Banchero’s growth and how he expanded and explored his game.
His maturity throughout the season was a vital story in the season — just listen to his story from The Woj Pod when he told Jamahl Mosley to play through him late in the win over the Washington Wizards, this was a small but crucial moment in his development.
So we take this slide and this moment to appreciate how Banchero grew from the beginning of the season to the end of it.
He started his season with a huge statement game, scoring 27 points in the opener against the Detroit Pistons. That included a monster jam over Cory Joseph.
Yes, this is the only loss we are discussing during this post recapping the greatest games of the season (we promised we were done celebrating losses). But this was a game that showed that Banchero belonged.
He showed us on night one that he was not going to be the typical rookie.
So by the time we got to February, we were seeing Banchero really start to put things together. And no game did he really put that on display then the win at the New Orleans Pelicans.
In a tight game, Banchero stood out with his ability to close the game, an area he often struggled with as the Magic force fed him the ball late in games. Here, he made the plays.
Banchero hit three consecutive tough jumpers to help the Magic expand their lead and hold off the Pelicans late for a big win. This was a poised and controlled performance from a rookie playing like a veteran. His 29 points and eight rebounds were just simply incredible.
This was the pinnacle of what the Magic believe Banchero can be.
Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season
2. OT Redemption — vs. Miami Heat (March 11)
A month before this game at the Amway Center, the Miami Heat were in Orlando.
The Orlando Magic took a 16-point lead and watched the Miami Heat take that lead away. Jimmy Butler hit big shots and the Magic were struggling to stop the bleeding. As the game went to overtime, the Magic were clearly rattled a bit and they bowed out quickly.
The fact the Heat continued to do this in the playoffs against elite teams is a little bit of solace. But this was a veteran team teaching a young team a lesson.
So a month later in March, the Heat arrived at the Amway Center. The Magic knew this was a big test for them. They again took a big lead. They again watched it dissipate — with Butler hitting a game-tying three late.
How would this Magic team respond? What lesson did they learn?
It is never fun losing a big lead on your home floor, especially to a hated rival. But for a young team, being put in the exact same situation and having to respond and grow is a big thing. The Magic needed to learn and grow. And to get this direct comparison had to be rewarding.
Orlando did not shrivel in overtime this time. Instead, they dominated.
They hit big shots and made big plays. They were not rattled this time. Instead, they looked at each other heading into overtime and resolved not to lose the game.
So Orlando went out and built the lead and closed the door at long last against the Heat. It was a meaningful and special win for the team. An important one for this young team.
To have this happen a month after one of the worst losses of the season was special for a young team. And it was easy to see the confidence the Magic had grown in late-game situations. This is a game that mattered and one the team likely will reference and know the next time they find themselves late in a game and needing to rally for a win.
Top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season
1. Slap in the face — at Boston Celtics (Dec. 16 and Dec. 18)
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.
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.