Orlando Magic vs. Washington Wizards: Game Preview

ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic are eager to respond after suffering a tough home loss just over 24 hours ago.

In that outing against the Boston Celtics, turnovers, offensive rebounds and drifting away from their fundamental principles in several stretches proved too costly to overcome.

Now, despite the quick turnaround, the Magic (2-4) will attempt to limit those self-inflicted errors and bounce back against the Washington Wizards (3-3) on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

“When you have a home-home back-to-back, you try to get as much rest as you can (after the first game), you meet at the (Kia Center on Monday) to go through what the other team is looking to do, how we want to defend it, and how we want to attack,” said Magic head coach Sean Sweeney. “And then, based on who we have, use the best combinations that we can and then look to go get them.”

Already down starters Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, in addition to role players like Noah Penda and Jonathan Isaac, Orlando will be without another key cog against Washington.

On the second night of a back-to-back, Anthony Black will be sidelined due to right ankle injury management. Black missed the preseason and the first two games of the regular season due to an ankle injury.

Being down another ball handler certainly won’t help a team trying to win the turnover battle.

So far, through six regular season affairs, that’s been a key factor for the Magic. In wins, Orlando is committing 14.5 turnovers, leading to 14.0 points per contest. In defeats, its giveaway number balloons to 18.5, and points off of those turnovers jumps to 20.8 per game.

“It’s definitely a combination of things,” said Sweeney. “I think when you see that crowd being able to make the right play to your teammate is really important … There's a number of times where you have to be really strong with the ball, and then play through contact when you do get it. And we can do a better job of that.”

Finding offensive rhythm against Washington will be no easy task. Teams are shooting just 41.8 percent from the floor against the Wizards, the second lowest mark in the NBA, and a mere 28.7 percent from 3-points range, the lowest in the league.

Offensively, Washington is led by a pair of perennial All-Stars in Anthony Davis and Trae Young, who are both scoring over 20 points per game.

Orlando will also get its first look at the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, AJ Dybantsa. The 19-year-old BYU alum is currently averaging 18 points and 4.5 rebounds in his two appearances so far this season.

IN AND OUT: Banchero (right low-grade high ankle sprain), Black (right ankle injury management), Isaac (left knee injury management), Izaiyah Nelson (left ankle injury recovery), Penda (right partially torn hamstring) and Suggs (right knee contusion / bone bruise) are out for Orlando.

For Washington, Justin Champagnie (right foot surgery), Anthony Gill (low back spasms), Alex Sarr (left knee soreness), Tristan Vukcevic (left hip impingement) and Jamir Watkins (left ACL repair / surgery) are out.

KEY STATS: The Magic have won seven straight games against the Wizards at Kia Center, and 13 of their last 14 regular season meetings overall.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “That's also what gives us a lot of hope. It's just seeing that all of these empty possessions that we're having are really self-inflicted and just being able to actually play it out and take advantage of those possessions is going to help us big time. And that's offensive rebounding, that's finishing possessions and taking care of turnovers.” – Magic forward Tristan da Silva

SEATS FOR SOLDIERS: To honor the men, women and their families for their service, the Magic and L3Harris Technologies have teamed up for the 23rd consecutive season to host Seats for Soldiers Night tonight. The event will provide game tickets for more than 2,500 active and retired military personnel and their families courtesy of the Magic, L3Harris and season ticket holders who donated their seats for the occasion.

Additionally, any ticket purchased for the game $5 will be donated to Homes for Our Troops. L3Harris has been partnering with Homes for our Troops for more than 10 years and has given back more than $2.5 million to the wounded veteran community. Homes for Our Troops helps provide specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post 9/11 veterans. L3Harris also recently presented Homes for Our Troops with $100,000 to assist wounded veterans and their families. Since 2004, Homes for Our Troops has built and donated 448 homes across 46 states with another 63 projects underway and another 100 veterans in the application process for homes.

The Seats for Soldiers celebration will include veterans, active military, families from all branches from Lake Nona Rotary Club, Lake Nona Regional Chamber of Commerce, Veterans Affairs Committee, Patrick Air Force Base, Combined Task Force (CTF), ITT Naval Air Station Jacksonville, MacDill Air Force Base, MWR ITT Orlando, Patrick Space Force Base, Eglin Air Force Base, Tyndall Air Force Base, NAS Pensacola Maxwell Air Force Base Shades of Green, Mayport Jacksonville, Wounded Warriors Project, United States Air Force Band of the West at Lackland Air Force Base, The Museum of Military History, Camaraderie Foundation, State of Hope, U.S Coast Guard SFS.

L3Harris and Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. will also host organizations in suites. Carter Jr. will host military veterans from the Orlando VA, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and treat them to a meal and special Magic gear. L3Harris will be hosting military veterans in two suites.

In addition, in honor of the annual Seats for Soldiers Night, the Magic will feature several activities, giveaways, entertainment and recognitions:

• Seats for Soldiers cheer cards presented by L3Harris will be distributed to the first 5,000 fans
• Military attendees sitting in courtside seats and suits will also receive special Seats for Soldiers T-shirts courtesy of L3Harris
• Challenge Coins will be provided to pregame and halftime entertainment, select suites and available at guest services
• Arena staff who have served in the military will receive special lapel pins
• A special military museum activation will be featured on the concourse with uniforms, flags and boots
• Prisoners of War and Missing in Action remembrance tables featured at Jernigan’s and the Gallagher Club
• Magic Authentics team shop discount – 20% off with a military ID
• Fans can also add a donation on to their Magic Authentics team shop purchase to support Homes for Our Troops which helps provide specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post 9/11 veterans
• Military vehicles featured at Fan Fest pregame outside on Church St.
• U.S. Air Force veteran Christopher Baker will be honored as the Magic Game Changer; Gunnery Sergeant (Ret.) Michael C. Snider, USMC will be honored as the Hometown Hero.
• Lance Corporal Ronald Horton Jr. will be recognized at halftime as the guest of honor for the game. Ronald served in the First Battalion, Second Company from 2007-2011. He was in Iraq from 2008-2009 and Afghanistan in 2010 as Team Leader during his second deployment. He received the Purple Heart, combat action ribbon, Marine Corp Good conduct, Afghanistan campaign medal with 1 bronze star and a few more medals.

HOW TO WATCH: Watch the contest on MagicTV.