ORLANDO, Fla. — The lingering query heading into the Orlando Magic’s recreation Sunday night time was: How had been they going to fill the void left by their two injured main scorers?
For one night time anyway, the reply is all 10 gamers, led by Jalen Suggs and Goga Bitadze, contribute. The Magic beat the Phoenix Suns 115-110 to increase their good house report to 10-0.
“I’m extraordinarily completely happy,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned of his group’s efforts to come back collectively. “I feel it was by committee. Each single individual that performed stepped up [and] got here in, performed his minutes the best approach and simply gave to the group. »
When All-Star ahead Paolo Banchero went down 5 weeks in the past with a torn indirect muscle, the Magic misplaced 4 straight video games earlier than discovering a profitable rhythm.
Sunday, it was the Magic once more – now with out Franz Wagner, who can be out indefinitely with the identical damage as Banchero. This time, expressing a need earlier than the sport to play quicker with out their two stars, Mosley launched his gamers.
A spirited Orlando group rode the wave of a balanced assault to earn its seventeenth win of the season.
“When your two finest gamers come out, two gamers who’re so concerned, particularly in our offense, photographs [and] creating plans, all these issues — it is actually exhausting to copy that with one individual,” Suggs mentioned after the sport. “We talked about it earlier immediately, getting collectively [and] that it is a group effort…that we are able to all fill and assist fill the void these two left behind.
“Actually simply pleased with how everybody got here in with the best depth [and] the best mind-set to come back and win a match. To not come, you recognize, have the ball in hand and have the chance to do one thing out of the abnormal, however simply to come back and win the basketball recreation and that is what we did tonight, to prime to backside. I haven’t got the rest to say as a result of I like these guys and I am pleased with them.”
The Magic stored tempo with the Suns within the first half, then their defensive grip tightened to power 13 turnovers within the second half. In complete, the Magic scored 23 factors off the Suns’ 21 turnovers.
Suggs had 26 factors, 22 within the second half when the Magic overcame an 11-point deficit.
Within the fourth quarter, Suggs scored 14 factors and battled defensively with Devin Booker and Tyus Jones – a duo that shot a mixed 2-for-9 within the closing quarter.
“I assumed he did an important job, and he is aware of how particular he’s defensively, we all know how particular he’s defensively,” Mosley mentioned. “And once more, with regards to potential and strain, you recognize, I feel he embraces all of that with regards to being and doing the best factor for the group. That is who he’s. I imply, he made large photographs, however he additionally made large saves down the stretch.”
Bitadze added a season-high 21 factors and a career-high 16 rebounds. Cole Anthony (14 factors) and Moe Wagner (10) additionally every reached double figures.
All 10 Magic gamers completed with at the very least six factors. Eight gamers had eight or extra factors.
In addition to Banchero and Wagner, the Magic had been additionally with out Jonathan Isaac and Gary Harris – with every participant coping with hamstring points.
The Magic return to the street for a gathering with the Milwaukee Bucks within the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup on Tuesday. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET from the Fiserv Discussion board.
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