The Orlando Magic walked out of the Kia Center with an opening-night loss, but not every part of the 132-125 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks looked the same.
Paolo Banchero made sure of that.
In his first game back this season, Banchero looked like the centerpiece Orlando wants him to be. He poured in 35 points, got to the free-throw line often, and gave the Magic the kind of offensive punch that answers a lot of offseason questions in one night. If there was any doubt about whether he can take another step and run this offense, this game offered a loud response.
Tristan da Silva also kept the momentum he built in the preseason. The third-year pro came off the bench and scored 14 points on 5 of 11 shooting, knocking down 4 of 10 from beyond the arc.
The coaching staff has given him the freedom to fire, and he’s taking full advantage of it. For Orlando, that green light is producing real value.
Not everyone had the same kind of night.
Jalen Suggs struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with six points on 2 of 8 shooting. He did flash on the defensive end, but the Magic need more from him offensively, especially as a 3-point threat, if he’s going to deliver the kind of impact this team is counting on.
He forced a few things that weren’t there, though that sort of uneven start comes with settling into the flow of a new system under Sweeney and his staff. It’s not something that should define his season.
There was also a curious rotation note late, with Suggs coming back in for da Silva after da Silva had been playing so well.
And with Anthony Black and Noah Penda sidelined by injury, Jamal Cain had a chance to carve out a bigger role. Instead, he finished with 14 scoreless minutes and little impact. He’ll likely get more chances, but those opportunities may shrink once Black is back in the lineup in the next couple of games.
The Hawks finished the job after Nickeil Alexander-Walker buried a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions in the final minute, turning a two-point Magic deficit into a five-point gap Atlanta never surrendered.
Orlando will try again Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tip-off is set for 7 pm ET at the Kia Center. Fans can watch on Magic TV 27 or stream on NBA League Pass.
In Other News...
Paolo Looked Ready But The Magics Opener Raised A Bigger Concern
Paolo Banchero looked every bit like the centerpiece Orlando wants him to be in the season opener, carrying the offense in a 132-125 loss to the Hawks. He poured in 35 points and helped steady a team that needed scoring from its star from the opening night, but even that kind of production was not enough to cover for a game that got away from the Magic late.
Sean Sweeneys first regular-season game as Orlandos head coach also brought some early rotation curiosity, with Jase Richardson getting a turn in the mix. The rookies minutes were limited, but the decision to get him on the floor was notable in a tight opener, especially on a night when the Magic were searching for the right combinations around Banchero and trying to make sense of the parts that still need to settle. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Already Face An Early Injury Problem They Cant Ignore
The early-season injury list keeps growing across the league, and Orlando has its own reasons to keep a close eye on it. Anthony Black is set to miss Fridays game against Minnesota after sitting out the home opener and the entire preseason with a right ankle sprain, another reminder of how quickly availability can become the first real storyline for a young roster trying to settle in.
Jonathan Isaac is still out as well, with left knee injury management keeping him sidelined for the moment. For a team that leans heavily on defense and lineup continuity, the Magic are already navigating the kind of personnel uncertainty that can shape rotation decisions before the calendar even gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Must Clean Up One Costly Problem Before Timberwolves Test
The free-throw issues from Orlandos season-opening loss to Atlanta did not just show up in the box score, they carried straight into practice. Sean Sweeney and the Magic spent time addressing the things that can tilt a game early in the year, from missed free throws to defense and turnovers, while the group turned its attention to a Minnesota Timberwolves matchup that already looks like an important measuring stick.
Fridays test comes with some lineup uncertainty, too, as the Magic continue to sort through injuries while trying to tighten the details. For a team that expects to lean on physical defense and cleaner execution, the challenge is not only playing the Timberwolves, but doing it while closing the gap on the little mistakes that can add up fast. [Read more 🡒]