The Orlando Magic opened their 2026 NBA Summer League with a 93-88 win over the Miami Heat on Saturday, and after the game, head coach D.J. Bakker made it clear the performance lined up with the message he’d been stressing in preparation.
Bakker said the biggest takeaway was the team’s commitment to playing on both ends of the floor, pointing to the kind of defensive effort that showed up in key moments. He highlighted Noah Penda’s versatility, noting that Penda can switch onto guards and bigs, and praised the way the group handled Miami in the second half.
The Heat scored 36 points after halftime, and Bakker said the Magic did a better job of keeping them out of transition, taking care of the ball, and staying locked in when their man had it. He also emphasized the importance of off-ball positioning and remaining alert even when a player’s assignment doesn’t have the ball.
The third quarter stood out to Bakker for the energy the team brought across the board. He said that showed up in the offensive rebounding, which he tied directly to effort and momentum.
As the rebounds piled up, the bench got louder and the players started communicating more, something Bakker viewed as a positive sign. His only concern was sustaining that level for longer stretches, though he said the team came out with the right mindset and approach.
Bakker also pointed to Jase Richardson’s voice at halftime as a meaningful moment. He said Richardson spoke up when the players were unhappy with how they had performed in the first half, and Bakker liked that the group responded by going out and executing after hearing him.
Izaiyah Nelson drew praise as well, with Bakker focusing on how quickly he has absorbed coaching points from one game to the next. Bakker said Nelson was better about avoiding swipe-down fouls in pick-and-roll coverage after being told to protect the rim, and he stressed how coachable Nelson has been, including his willingness to watch film and make adjustments. Bakker added that Nelson’s size and physicality, along with his ability to switch in a one-through-five scheme, give him real defensive versatility.
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Noah Penda also gave Orlando a reason to build on the loss with a strong shooting night, and Richardson made a point of noting the work his teammate put in. There was also a little extra energy on the sideline, with regular-season Magic teammates showing up to support the group after teasing their appearance in the group chat, a reminder that even in Summer League, Orlando is treating these games like part of a bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]