How Magic fared during 7-game homestand and what comes next

Through their first 34 games last season, the Magic posted a 19-15 record.

Star forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner appeared in all 34.

This year? A far different story for Orlando.

Banchero has played in just 5 of the first 34 and Wagner 25 (meaning he’s still missed more than a quarter of the season).

That’s not to mention other key rotational players, including Wendell Carter Jr. (13 games missed), Gary Harris (13), Jonathan Isaac (6) and Goga Bitadze (5), who have also missed different stretches of games due to injury to begin the campaign.

Yet through it all, Jamahl Mosley‘s squad actually has a stronger record (20-14) through the first 34 games compared to last season at this point.

“It speaks so much to the resiliency of our guys, the grit of our guys (and) the preparation of the coaching staff,” Mosley said after Orlando defeated Brooklyn in dramatic fashion, 102-101, Sunday night.

There’s still more than half the year to go with 48 games remaining as Orlando works to return to the playoffs for the second straight season.

Before flipping the page on their latest seven-game homestand, it’s worth examining how the Magic (who sat fourth in the East entering Monday’s slate) performed while looking at the road ahead.

Comeback kids

If there’s one thing about this Magic squad, it’s that they won’t quit.

In all three of its wins over the last seven games, Orlando overcame a double-digit deficit to seal a victory, including a 21-point hole Sunday to beat Brooklyn and a 25-point difference Dec. 21 vs. Miami.

It’s only the fourth time in franchise history that the Magic have multiple 20-plus point comeback wins during the same season, the team said. The other times were 1996-97, 2014-15 and 2020-21.

Since play-by-play began being tracked in 1996-97, Orlando has never had three 20-plus point comeback wins in the same season. It came close, though, to achieving such a feat on this latest homestand.

The Magic captured a 15-point comeback win Dec. 23 vs. the defending champions Celtics, just two days after their comeback against the Heat.

“It speaks so much to the resiliency (and) grit of our guys, the preparation of our coaching staff keeping guys that have not played ready to go, knowing that they can light a spark at any moment,” Mosley said Sunday night. “No matter how much we’ve been down, these guys are going to continue to fight.”

Shooting woes remain

Although the Magic did complete three remarkable comebacks during their seven-game homestand, there’s a reason they fell down double figures in the first place. And lost four games as well.

Orlando’s offensive rating (103.1) the last seven games was second-worst in the NBA behind only the Hornets (102.7), who went 0-7 in that stretch.

The Magic (30.5%) are also second behind Charlotte (28.1%) for lowest 3-point percentage the last seven games.

Taking a deeper dive into its long-range attempts, Orlando shot 33.3% on 3-point field goals where the closest defender was 6-or-more feet away (meaning they’re wide-open shots), according to NBA.com.

The reason the Magic were able to overcome their poor shooting was thanks to their stout defense. Orlando’s defensive rating (107.1) was tied for fourth best in the league.

da Silva emerges

Although Magic rookie Tristan da Silva already had provided consistent production since Banchero suffered a torn right abdominal muscle Oct. 30, the No. 18 pick has taken a significant step on offense as of late.

In the 22 games prior to the last seven contests (which included 16 starts), da Silva averaged 7.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

In the last seven games, however, da Silva averaged 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He led the Magic in scoring twice.

His scoring also led all rookies in that stretch. In addition, his assists were third-most among rookies who appeared in each of the last seven games.

Despite 15 more appearances in the 22 games prior to the recent homestand, da Silva recorded the same amount of double-digit performances (5) in both stretches of games.

Bitadze grows reliable

Not only has reserve-turned-starting center Bitadze recorded three straight double-doubles, he notched a double-double in five of the last seven games.

He almost went 7-for-7, too. He had one contest with 8 points and 11 rebounds and another with 8 rebounds and 9 rebounds.

That’s all led to Bitadze averaging 13.1 points and 11.3 rebounds alongside 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals the last seven games. He’s been efficient, too, shooting 70.2% from the field in that stretch.

As the Magic continue to adjust without Moe Wagner (left knee torn ACL) for the remainder of the season, Bitadze offering a double-double on most nights is key to a consistent paint presence for Orlando.

What comes next

Four of the Magic’s next seven games will be played at Kia Center, where they are 13-4 this season.

Orlando, however, will play its next two away on the road, including Wednesday at Detroit, but help be could on the way after Mosley’s squad started 7-10 on the road.

Banchero, who’s ramped up his re-conditioning, recently told reporters he aims to get in some live scrimmages in the coming days as well as start dunking a basketball again this week.

In addition, Franz Wagner is set to be re-evaluated Jan. 6, based on Orlando’s original timeline, which could indicate his return is also on the horizon.

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