Pregame Report from AdventHealth Training Center
ORLANDO – If the Orlando Magic’s New Year’s resolution was to stay true to their principles of playing by committee and protecting the paint, through one game in 2023, they’re off to a good start.
Orlando limited the Oklahoma City Thunder to just 30 points in the paint and, for just the 12th time in franchise history, had eight players score in double figures on its way to a 126-115 home victory on Wednesday night.
Now, just one night later, the Magic (14-24) will look to keep their New Year’s momentum rolling when they host the Memphis Grizzlies (24-13) at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday.
“It was fantastic. Our guys were great,” said Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley of his team’s performance against the Thunder. “Their ability to share the basketball (and) understanding what we’ve talked about the whole time. Attack the paint, spray out, find the open man, and find the open man with confidence.”
Part of Orlando’s success can be attributed to four non-game days in between its last game of 2022 – a Dec. 30 matchup with the Wizards – and its outing with OKC. The Magic maximized that time by squeezing in two rest days, a pair of practices and a shootaround between those affairs.
“Well, it was big for us because we talked about the things that we wanted to get done,” said Mosley. “Defensively, protecting the paint, you know you hold them to thirty points in the paint. Being able to share the basketball, you have twenty-six assists. Obviously, we’ll need to take care of the basketball better, but our ability to share it and protect the paint is one thing that we are continuing to work on and continuing to improve.”
Those areas will once again be critical against one the league’s most balanced squads. On offense, the Grizzlies score the most points in the paint in the association, pouring in 58.9 of them per game. They’re also elite in transition, putting up the third-most fast break points per contest (17.9).
“(Defense has to be) our calling card as a team,” said Magic forward Paolo Banchero, who was recently named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December 2022. “If we’re playing good defense, we usually play good offense.”
On the other end of the floor, the Grizzlies – owner’s of the NBA’s third-best defensive rating (108.9) – are second in the league in blocked shots (6.1) and rebounds (49.3) per game.
As a unit, the Grizzlies are led by Ja Morant, whose making an outside case to be the league’s MVP. He ranks top 15 in points per game at 27.1 while also ranking top 10 in assists per contest at 8.0.
KEY STATS: After notching 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists against the Thunder, Banchero has amassed 652 total points, 208 rebounds, and 123 assists. Per Statitudes, since the ABA-NBA merger, the only other rookies to reach 600 points, 200 rebounds, and 120 assists through their first 31 games are Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, both in 1979-80.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “He’s an impressive player, obviously. He made shots tonight. Jump shots, which makes him really tough when he does that because he’s got the foul drawing, he’s got the driving, he’s got the passing. I’ve been impressed with how unselfish he is. He draws defense and he makes the right play. There was one time we tried to zone them and he just kind of quarterbacked their team and found a wide-open shot. Like I said before the game, he’s a very mature player. He’s mature physically for a rookie and a (20) year old, and he’s really mature in terms of his game. He’s an impressive player.” – Thunder Head Coach Mark Daigneault on Banchero
IN AND OUT: The Magic will get Franz Wagner and Admiral Schofield back after serving their one-game suspensions for their roles in an on-court altercation against Detroit. Moe Wagner still has one game remaining on his suspension.
Jalen Suggs (right ankle soreness) is available and will make his return. However, Bol Bol (health and safety protocols), Kevon Harris (G League – Two-Way), Jonathan Isaac (left knee injury recovery), and Chuma Okeke (left knee surgery) are out.
Memphis has yet to submit its injury report. However, Brandon Clarke (left hip soreness), Danny Green (left knee surgery recovery), Jake LaRavia (G League – On Assignment) and Kenneth Lofton Jr. (G League – Two-Way) did not play last night against the Charlotte Hornets.
HOW TO WATCH: Watch the game on Bally Sports Florida or tune in on radio via FM 96.9 The Game.