At the end of last March, Kawhi Leonard (29 points and 11 rebounds) and the Clippers ruled the roost on the Magic floor. The Floridians probably had no idea that their next home defeat would not take place until… eight months later.
In this case last night against the Knicks. “ We're not going to make excuses. Our defense kept us in the game. That was the key. But there are those costly and timely turnovers “, regrets Jamahl Mosleywhose formation was contained to only 91 points, with 42% on shots, including 30% at 3-points.
“ We must make sure to keep the right state of mind, the right approach, even if the opponent is going to make runs. We must be able to understand it. We gave ourselves the opportunity, but it is in this type of situation that we must continue to stay the course. There will be ups and downs, but don't get carried away by emotions », Asks the coach again.
He is undoubtedly thinking of the technical foul received by Jalen Suggs, frustrated with the referees after conceding a basket from Jalen Bruson, in the last act.
Two career records
Not easy, knowing that the team is still evolving without its two best elements, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. This night, to compensate, Moe Wagner scored his career record with 32 points, imitated by rookie Tristan Da Silva, author of 20 points. No other player on the team exceeded 10 points…
So not enough to win. “ Whether in attack or defense, we have to improve a little mentally. When you use your energy well, good things happen. We have to mature a little collectively. It's a great opportunity for us, with our two best players missing », recalls Moe Wagner.
This setback put an end to their great series of invincibility at home: 10 victories in a row this season, and even 17 combining the end of last season and the playoffs against the Cavs. It was the third longest running series of its kind in franchise history. The absolute record still belongs to the 1995-96 version of the Magic which started its season… with 33 straight victories in its home arena.
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Paolo Banchero | 5 | 36.4 | 49.5 | 34.4 | 64.4 | 2.4 | 6.4 | 8.8 | 5.6 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 29.0 |
| Franz Wagner | 26 | 31.9 | 46.5 | 32.1 | 88.1 | 0.9 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 23.5 |
| Jalen Suggs | 27 | 30.4 | 40.5 | 31.4 | 91.5 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 16.3 |
| Moe Wagner | 28 | 19.4 | 56.2 | 36.5 | 72.6 | 1.4 | 3.9 | 5.3 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 13.4 |
| Goga Bitadze | 23 | 23.5 | 63.2 | 0.0 | 78.0 | 2.9 | 4.8 | 7.7 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 8.9 |
| Anthony Black | 28 | 24.1 | 41.1 | 24.2 | 71.4 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 8.1 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-pope | 27 | 30.3 | 39.6 | 29.1 | 87.9 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 8.1 |
| Tristan Da Silva | 24 | 23.1 | 41.9 | 33.3 | 70.8 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 7.7 |
| Wendell Carter, Jr. | 15 | 26.0 | 48.7 | 16.1 | 76.3 | 1.9 | 5.7 | 7.6 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 7.2 |
| Jonathan Isaac | 22 | 16.8 | 44.7 | 30.5 | 67.9 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 4.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 6.3 |
| Cole Anthony | 25 | 11.0 | 38.1 | 30.8 | 71.9 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 5.2 |
| Gary Harris | 17 | 16.6 | 40.0 | 37.0 | 66.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 4.1 |
| Jett Howard | 26 | 10.5 | 37.0 | 31.2 | 85.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 4.0 |
| Caleb Houstan | 18 | 5.5 | 30.8 | 27.3 | 100.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| Cory Joseph | 14 | 3.9 | 37.5 | 41.7 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.2 |
| Trevelin Queen | 3 | 2.2 | 33.3 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| MacMcClung | 1 | 4.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
