Oct. 25 vs. Rockets
The Magic showed in the season opener that they were going to be a defensive-minded team who did things by committee. Orlando held Houston to just 86 points and 40.5 percent field goal shooting. Meanwhile, offensively, six Magic players scored in double figures, including Cole Anthony, who scored 20, and Franz Wagner, who had 19. The Magic outscored the Rockets by 19 after halftime.
Nov. 2 at Jazz
After a Lauri Markkanen 3-pointer gave the Jazz a one-point lead with 20 seconds left, Paolo Banchero responded with a go-ahead driving layup with 14 seconds remaining to propel the Magic to the victory. Banchero led with 30 points, while Franz scored 21.
Nov. 4 vs. Lakers
After losing several nights earlier to the Lakers in a heartbreaker in Los Angeles, the Magic were eager to earn redemption, which they did, as Franz posted 26 points, Banchero had 25 and rookie Anthony Black was a plus-32 in his 30 minutes of action in a convincing victory. Orlando scored 39 first-quarter points and led by as many as 25 in the third quarter.
Nov. 15 at Bulls
Banchero played the hero role in Chicago, as his turnaround jumper in the lane with 1.4 seconds left lifted the Magic past the Bulls. Zach LaVine had tied the game on the prior possession with a 3-pointer. Orlando, which led by as many as 19, held Chicago to 39.8 percent shooting from the field.
Nov. 17 at Bulls
Similar to what transpired two nights earlier, the Magic needed someone to make a big shot in the final moments to avoid a collapse. This time, it was Franz who delivered in crunch time, as his AND-1 layup with 20.1 seconds left catapulted Orlando to the win in Chicago in In-Season Tournament action. The Magic, who led by as many as 20, got 21 points from Franz and 18 from Jonathan Isaac.
Nov. 22 vs. Nuggets
Despite having played the prior night, the Magic had plenty of juice left in the fourth quarter to edge the defending-champion Nuggets. Orlando erupted for 42 points in the final frame. Franz led with 27 points, while Banchero scored 23 and Anthony had 20.
Nov. 24 vs. Celtics
Similar to the Denver game, the Magic used a strong fourth quarter to roll past the Celtics in an In-Season Tournament contest. Moe Wagner led with 27 points, while Banchero scored 23. Orlando racked up 36 points in the final frame while holding Boston to just 23.5 percent field goal shooting in those last 12 minutes.
Jan. 5 at Nuggets
Despite having only eight healthy players available, the Magic pulled out a stunning victory over the defending champs after trailing by as many as 18. Banchero recorded his first of what would be two triple-doubles on the season with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, while Jalen Suggs made seven 3-pointers and racked up a career-high 27 points. Banchero also had three steals, making him one of only seven players all time in NBA history with a 30-10-10-three game before turning 22 years old. The others who did it were Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Steph Curry and Luka Doncic.
Jan. 7 vs. Hawks
Although still undermanned, the Magic survived a nailbiter against the Hawks. Banchero erupted for 35 points, his sixth straight game with 25-plus, and Caleb Houstan tallied a career-best 25 points in the overtime victory. Atlanta rallied from down six with just under two minutes left in regulation to force the extra session. Orlando, however, led by Banchero, reclaimed control in those added five minutes.
Jan. 15 at Knicks
In his return from a five-game absence due to right knee tendinitis, Wendell Carter Jr. scored 17 points and his left-handed baby hook with 44 seconds left sealed Orlando’s victory at Madison Square Garden. Banchero, who also made a pair of clutch shots down the stretch, led the Magic with 20 points, while Chuma Okeke and Anthony each scored 15. Orlando trailed by as many as 11 in the second half, but ended up holding New York to just 16 fourth-quarter points. The Knicks missed 10 of their final 12 floor shots.
Jan. 28 vs. Suns
Among the teams that made the postseason, the Magic finished with the best fourth-quarter defensive rating (109.3). One of the many examples of their defensive excellence late in games came against the Suns in a victory at Kia Center. Phoenix, which had been riding the hot hand of Devin Booker during the first three quarters, only scored 13 points in the final frame. Although he finished with 44, Booker only scored two in those last 12 minutes. Moe Wagner came up big for the Magic down the stretch with nine of his 16 points coming in the fourth.
Feb. 2 at Timberwolves
Banchero, who the prior night was named a 2024 NBA All-Star, recorded 23 points, Franz scored 19 and Carter registered an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double, as the Magic overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat the T-Wolves. Orlando held Minnesota to just 5-of-20 overall shooting in the fourth quarter and 2-of-10 from 3-point distance.
Feb. 24 at Pistons
Despite feeling under the weather, Banchero had just enough left in the tank to break a tie with a three-point play with 0.8 seconds left in the Magic’s thrilling victory in Detroit. Cade Cunningham, another former No. 1 overall draft pick, had tied the game for the Pistons on the prior possession with a driving layup with 12.1 seconds remaining. Banchero, who finished with 15 points, was one of eight Magic players to score in double figures.
April 3 at Pelicans
Over the last few weeks of the season, the Magic played in a number of playoff-like games. That included the one in New Orleans, which got physical and testy. That, however, didn’t faze the Magic, who got 32 points from Banchero and 24 from Franz in Orlando’s hard-fought victory over the Pelicans. The Magic held Zion Williamson to just 15 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field.
April 14 vs. Bucks
It had been a while since the Magic played a regular season game with this much at stake. A win and they would lock up a playoff spot and the Southeast Division title. A loss and they would be in the play-in tournament. Rather than buckle under the pressure, the Magic did what got them to this point, which was play with an abundance of energy and intensity. That paid off, as Orlando overcame a slow start to cruise past Milwaukee. Banchero flirted with a triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, while Franz scored 25. Orlando held Damian Lillard to just 2-of-14 overall shooting and 0-of-4 from 3-point range.
