2023-24 Orlando Magic Schedule
Starting on the Road
Oct. 25: vs. Houston Rockets (7P)
The Orlando Magic open their 2024 regular season at the Amway Center against the hated Houston Rockets. That is a fitting opponent for the Magic to open their 35th anniversary season considering the history between these two teams.
Not that any of the players on either team remembers the 1995 Finals (I certainly still do). The game is even more important considering what comes next.
Oct. 27: at Portland Trail Blazers (10P)
Oct. 30: at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30P, NBATV)
Oct. 31: at LA Clippers (10:30P)
Nov. 2: at Utah Jazz (9P)
It is exceedingly rare for a team to take a West Coast trip this early in the season. The Cleveland Cavaliers in LeBron James’ rookie year was the last time I can remember a team starting the year with a West Coast trip like this.
For the Orlando Magic, this is the earliest West Coast road trip in team history, including the 1991 season when the team played in the Western Conference. The previous earliest West Coast trip took place on Game 7 on Nov. 9, 2000, and Nov. 11, 2001.
That is pretty different for this team, who usually take their West Coast road trips in late November/early December and then a second one in early January or March (usually during the NCAA Tournament). But it is exceptionally rare for the Magic to go on a long road trip like this early on in the season.
It is part of what is overall a very road-heavy start to the season that includes a “home” game in Mexico City against the Atlanta Hawks.
If the Magic want to get off to a good start, they will have their work cut out for them.
Nov. 4: vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7P)
Nov. 6: vs. Dallas Mavericks (7P)
Nov. 9: vs. Atlanta Hawks at Mexico City (9:30P/NBATV)
Nov. 11: vs. Milwaukee Bucks (6P)
The Orlando Magic return home from the West Coast trip to complete their season series with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers (a Saturday game, for those who are trying to get tickets, so beware). That is followed by a game with some star power against Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks.
Typically the Magic get a long homestand — their longest homestands — following the West Coast road trip. But this homestand has an international interruption as the Magic make the long trip to Mexico City to take on the Atlanta Hawks.
Fortunately for the Magic, the season starts off fairly manageable. Only six of these first 10 games feature teams who made the postseason last year.
Still, heading into the In-Season Tournament group play games, the Magic will either feel very confident or be searching for some answers.