Winners of three consecutive series, the Magic have a chance to achieve an undefeated season for the first time since 2018-19 on Tuesday night against the Hornets at the Kia Center.
A home victory would mark Orlando‘s 41st of the season, achieving at least a .500 record with 13 games remaining.
Although the Magic have their eyes on much more under a third-year coach Jamahl Mosley With less than a month until the playoffs begin, securing a no-loss record would check another box in the organization’s rebuilding process.
The Magic have finished below .500 each of the last four years, but have improved their win total each season under Mosley.
Speaking of the playoffs, a win on Tuesday would also, at worst, allow Orlando to qualify for the NBA Play-In tournament. That’s because the 11th-seeded Nets are unable to reach 41 wins this season after losing Sunday’s game against the Spurs.
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The No. 7 through 10 seeds from each conference compete in the Play-In for the No. 7 and 8 playoff spots.
Orlando missed the Play-In last year despite a surge in winning during the second half of the season. The group was the last East team to be mathematically eliminated from Play-In competition.
This year, the Magic have been ahead of schedule for most of the season. Their current record is not a better example.
Mosley’s team enters the Charlotte game at 40-28. At this point last season, the Magic were 28-40.
Of course, Orlando can avoid the Play-In altogether by finishing in the top 6 in the East to clinch a spot in the first round of the playoffs.
Entering Monday’s games, the Magic sat in fifth place in the conference, just a half-game behind the fourth-seeded Knicks (40-27) and two full games ahead of the sixth-seeded Pacers (38 -30).
According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, Orlando has an 88.7% chance of finishing in the top 6 and a 73.3% chance of winning the Southeast Division.
The Magic have only won one division title (2019) since 2010.
With Orlando’s goals in sight, his upcoming schedule after the Hornets only gets tougher.
Although all four games will be played at home (where the Magic are 23-9 this season), the next four opponents (Pelicans, Kings, Warriors and Clippers) hold records above .500. Orlando is 15-22 against teams with a winning record this year.
Three of these four teams are also in the top 6 in the West; Golden State is ninth.
Fortunately for Orlando, the team is healthy at the right time.
Forward Jonathan Isaac (who missed Sunday’s game against Toronto due to a left knee injury) should be available for the Magic against the Hornets (17-51).
Although Orlando does not have any players listed on its injury report, the same cannot be said for Charlotte.
Former Magic coach Steve Clifford will miss guard LaMelo Ball (right ankle tendinopathy), guard Seth Curry (sprained right ankle), forward Cody Martin (sprained left ankle) , guard Bryce McGowens (sprained right knee) and center Mark Williams (sprained left ankle). recovering from a back injury) against Orlando.
Jason Beede can be contacted at [email protected]
