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5 most important stretches of Orlando Magic’s 2024 season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Markelle Fultz charged the Orlando Magic to a win over the Chicago Bulls as their play-in chase gets more real. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Markelle Fultz charged the Orlando Magic to a win over the Chicago Bulls as their play-in chase gets more real. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets
Dec 21, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) handles the ball while Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (1) defends during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /

5 most important stretches of the Orlando Magic’s season

The Start (Oct. 25-Nov. 2)

Oct. 25: vs. Houston
Oct. 27: at Portland
Oct. 30: at Los Angeles Lakers
Oct. 31: at LA Clippers
Nov. 2: at Utah

Jalen Suggs said earlier this offseason he was “locked in” for the upcoming season. He said he and his teammates are eager to get the season started not merely because they have such high expectations for the year ahead and what they can all accomplish, but because they want to prove a lot of people wrong.

They flew in under the radar because of that 5-20 start and so Suggs said the team is focused on getting off to a good start. This team wants to set the pace this year rather than have to make up ground.

That is a strong goal and one that is necessary for a young team trying to build confidence.

The bad news is the schedule is going to be extremely tough for them to do so. Orlando will take the earliest West Coast trip in franchise history, heading on a four-game road trip after the opener at Amway Center against the Houston Rockets.

Perhaps worse still, the game against the Rockets will be no pushover with veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks joining an eager Rockets team. And even the game against the Portland Trail Blazers to open the road trip on Oct. 27 will not be as friendly as it might be in March because Damian Lillard appears likely to still be in Portland.

Playing teams early in the season can be tougher because everyone has hope and belief in what they can do. Just because a team is projected to finish near the bottom of the standings does not mean they start that way.

Going out on the road — heading to Los Angeles for the back-to-back and then to Utah — is always tough. The Magic will have to band together quickly to pick up wins and get off to the start they want — not helping matters is that Orlando returns for a four-game homestand that includes a game in Mexico City interrupting the time at Amway Center.

Suggs, for his part, told The Sixth Man Show that he likes starting on the road like this. He thinks it will be good for the Magic to have to band together like this early if they want to achieve their goals.

Only time will tell. Either the Magic will have a solid and impressive start on the road or they will be trying to dig themselves out once again.

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