The Orlando Magic’s full slate of games is finally here after its full release Thursday afternoon, and now comes the good part: time spent looking forward to the key games coming up this upcoming season.
The energy surrounding the franchise heading into the new campaign is through the roof. A 47-win campaign last season helped Orlando qualify for the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time in four seasons and win the Southeast Division championship for the first time in five years. Although it ended at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers after a seven-game romp in the first round of the playoffs, Orlando believes it is poised to make further progress.
To continue charting a path forward, the Magic will need to succeed in a top-heavy East and make noise among contenders across the Association.
As fans begin to plan their trips and secure their tickets, and talent is spread across multiple markets across the league, some interesting matchups jump out at the first glance at the Magic’s roster.
Without further ado, let’s break down some of the key matchups on the radar this year.
Note: If you are looking for the entire Magic schedule in 2024-25, CLICK HERE.
Magic, Cavaliers meet for rematch of last season’s playoff series
Orlando’s offensive struggles have surfaced too often in seven straight contests between them and the The Cleveland Cavalierswhich ended Jamahl Mosley’s breakthrough season in his third season as head coach.
Including last year’s playoff series, the Cavaliers won the season series against the Magic, 6-5.
This season, they will meet three times in the 82-game regular season (unless they meet in a single-elimination round of the NBA Cup): Nov. 1 in Cleveland (ESPN), Feb. 26 in Orlando (TNT) and March 16 in Cleveland.
Despite the postseason disappointment, Paolo Banchero’s playoff debut was historic: averaging 27.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists at age 21. As the young Magic head into another key season to rise to the top, facing the team that eliminated them last year could show just how far behind Orlando is this year.
Magic have a chance against defending champion Celtics
In practice, there is no better test of where a team stands relative to its competitors than meetings with the reigning champions. This is especially true since Boston Celtics – by far the league’s best team in 2023-24 and the reigning NBA champion – returns virtually every player from its title-winning roster from a season ago.
Orlando won one of three games against Boston last season — the only time the Celtics came to downtown Orlando — and could have competed if the Magic had advanced to the second round of the playoffs.
This year, Orlando and Boston will meet three times: December 23 in Orlando, January 17 in Boston and April 9 at home.
To be the man, you have to beat the man, or in this case, you have to beat the team to be the team to beat. As the upcoming schedule approaches, that team is Boston.
Orlando vs. Other Potential Eastern Players
The new look The Philadelphia 76ersFresh off the monumental offseason addition of Paul George via free agency and a major roster turnover outside of Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, they should contend near the top of the Eastern Conference if they stay healthy. Orlando and Philadelphia meet four times, including once in the NBA Cup — Nov. 15 in Orlando, Dec. 4-6 in Philadelphia and Jan. 12 in Orlando.
Perhaps Boston’s toughest competition to come from the East again this year, basketball returns to Madison Square Garden as The New York Knicks The Red Devils are entering one of their most anticipated seasons yet. The Villanova quartet, now complete after the addition of Mikal Bridges to the trio of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo this summer, will meet the Magic three times this year, including one on national television in the NBA Cup group stage finals — Dec. 3 in New York (TNT), Dec. 27 in Orlando and Jan. 6 at MSG.
Although the Milwaukee Bucks While the Bucks seem to be the forgotten team in the Eastern Conference equation, the Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard duo is making a second round and this is the first time with Doc Rivers as the full-time head coach this season. Not to mention, Antetokounmpo is firmly in the running for the league’s MVP award when healthy. Orlando will face the Greek Freak-led Bucks three times — Jan. 10 in Orlando, Jan. 15 and March 8 in Milwaukee.
Sunshine State clashes
Orlando and its Florida neighbor, the Miami Heatwill meet four times this season, including the Magic’s season opener: Oct. 23 in Miami, Dec. 21-26 in Orlando and Jan. 27 back in Miami.
Other matches in the South East division
Orlando will defend its Southeast Division crown this season, with the aforementioned Heat, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards as competitors.
