The Orlando Magic are starting to look like a team rediscovering its identity - and that identity is rooted in defense, energy, and execution. After a sluggish first half, the Magic flipped the switch in the third quarter, locking down on defense and finally turning stops into points. Head coach Jamahl Mosley credited that second-half surge to a mindset shift - one that began in the locker room at halftime.
“We just took on the challenge,” Mosley said postgame. “The coaches laid it out, and the guys responded.
We were getting stops in the first half, but not converting. That third quarter?
That’s what it’s supposed to look like.”
And it did. The Magic held their opponent to just 20 points in the third frame, setting the tone with defensive pressure, active hands, and smart rotations.
The result? Transition buckets, early offense, and a rhythm that had been missing through the first two quarters.
It wasn’t just about effort - it was about execution. Throw-ahead passes, better spacing, and a commitment to playing downhill gave Orlando the edge.
One of the big stories of the night was Franz Wagner’s return. While his conditioning is still coming back, his impact was immediate.
“He looked comfortable,” Mosley said. “He got downhill, made plays for others, stayed aggressive - that’s what we need from him.”
Wagner didn’t force anything. He let the game come to him, and in doing so, helped stabilize the offense.
But the real backbone of this win was the team’s refusal to let poor shooting dictate their energy. The first half was rough - shots weren’t falling, and the offense looked stuck in the mud. But rather than hang their heads, the Magic leaned into what they do best.
“You have to,” Mosley said. “When the ball’s not going in, you’ve got to find another way.
For us, that’s defense. Containing the ball, forcing turnovers, getting out in transition - it helped us see the ball go through the hoop, and that changed the game.”
That defensive identity is starting to take shape again. After holding several recent opponents under 100 points, Mosley acknowledged the team is trending in the right direction.
“It’s getting there,” he said. “It’s not quite the ‘dark side’ like the old Seahawks defense, but we’re getting there.”
As for Paolo Banchero, he had one of those nights where the box score doesn’t tell the full story. He struggled to find his shot early, but stayed locked in - making the right reads, drawing defenders, and keeping the offense moving. Even when the whistles weren’t going his way, Banchero stayed aggressive, attacking the rim and forcing defenses to react.
“He stays with the process,” Mosley said. “We ran him in pick-and-rolls with some of the smalls, and he made the right plays.
He’s not just trying to score - he’s making the right pass, getting downhill, and putting pressure on the defense. That’s what we need from him.”
Jalen Suggs also deserves a nod. His 10 assists were a testament to his growing feel for the game, especially in transition.
But Mosley pointed out there’s still room to grow. “We had some two-on-ones where we didn’t make the right play,” he said.
“We’ve got to run with the right spacing, get downhill, and force the defense to commit. That’s something we’ll go over in film.”
The return of both Wagner brothers - Franz and Moritz - brought a noticeable boost in energy, even with minutes restrictions in place. “I love their energy,” Mosley said.
“Just having them back on the floor together - it matters. It’s going to take some time with the restrictions, but they understand that.
We’re managing it, and they’re making the most of their minutes.”
One of the more intriguing adjustments came in the fourth quarter, when Mosley slid Banchero to the five spot, surrounding him with multiple ball handlers. It wasn’t just a matchup move - it was a strategic shift to exploit the opponent’s small-ball lineup and keep the floor spaced.
“They went small, and we’d been switching anyway,” Mosley explained. “So putting Paolo at the five made sense.
He can handle mismatches, and when teams overhelp, he can kick it out. That’s the beauty of our roster - we’ve got multiple guys who can make plays.”
And now, with three straight wins under their belt - a streak they haven’t seen in a while - the Magic are gaining momentum heading into the All-Star break. Mosley kept the message simple: stay grounded, stay focused.
“Three in a row is good for us,” he said. “We talk about taking care of home, but also about taking it one game at a time. That’s how you build confidence - one step at a time.”
The Magic aren’t just winning games - they’re building something. And if this latest stretch is any indication, they’re doing it the right way: with defense, discipline, and a belief in who they are.