ORLANDO - Several of the Orlando Magic’s most impressive wins this season have come after a loss – and more specifically, a loss caused by a lack of intensity.
The latest such example came Sunday night against the Chicago Bulls. Two nights after their disappointing defeat in Charlotte, the Magic delivered on their promise of giving a better effort and playing up to their normal defensive standards in a 113-98 victory at the Kia Center.
“I think they did a great job taking on the challenge – one, from responding back from the Charlotte game and two, how we start quarters out, how we start the game out,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said. “I think they did a great job focusing on the defensive end of the floor, (being) physical without fouling, finishing possessions out, active hands, turning them over. All the things we talked about at the beginning of the game, they did.”
The Magic, who never trailed, forced the Bulls into 21 turnovers, which led to 28 Orlando points. They also limited Chicago to just 6-for-20 shooting from 3-point range.
The Magic have now held their opponent to under 100 points 22 times this season, one off from the league most. The Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks have each done this 23 times.
There was some bad news from the night, however. Franz Wagner, who scored 16 points in his 20 minutes of action, sprained his right ankle early in the third quarter while going for a rebound. Although X-rays were negative, he did not return. A sore back, meanwhile, limited Jonathan Isaac to just five minutes. He didn’t play in the last game because of back spasms.
Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 24 points. He also compiled six rebounds and five assists, making it the 27th time this season he has racked up 20-plus, five-plus rebounds and five-plus assists in a game. That’s tied for the ninth-most times with both Kevin Durant and Dejounte Murray.
Jalen Suggs finished with 19 points, Markelle Fultz had a season-high 17 points and Wendell Carter Jr. recorded 11 points and eight rebounds.
“Very proud. The ability to understand the nature of this league, the nature of not only the game of basketball, but that it’s imperfect,” Suggs said. “Just continuing to bounce back, continue to move on to the next thing. I think we did a great job of that tonight. Coach did a great job of preparing us. I think Mose made a great statement before the game, which was just focus on holding them to under 100 points, just focus on the defensive end, let the offense figure itself out, but really make a statement that we are special (on defense) and that we can bring heat to make them uncomfortable on that side of the ball – and we did that.”
DeMar DeRozan paced Chicago with 30 points, while Javonte Green scored 15 and Andre Drummond notched his 18th double-double this season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Magic improved to 18-0 against sub-.500 teams at Kia Center this season. They are one of only two teams – the Boston Celtics being the other – who are undefeated in their home arena against opponents currently under .500.
Inching closer and closer to securing a playoff spot, the Magic now head back out on the road for a three-game trip, which starts Tuesday when they visit the Houston Rockets at 8 p.m. ET.