The Orlando Magic have spent much of this preseason looking like a team trying to solve its own identity, and Friday’s matchup with the Miami Heat should say plenty about how far that process has come. The offense has flashed real growth.
The defense, not so much - at least not yet. And with Miami in the building, Orlando gets a useful measuring stick.
What stands out first is the contrast between the two ends of the floor. The Magic have pushed the pace more, launched more 3s and shown better ball movement and spacing than they did at times last season.
That has been the encouraging part of the preseason, especially for a group whose biggest issue was scoring consistency. Orlando is currently 10th in the league in first-half offensive rating at 117.0 points per 100 possessions and ninth overall at 115.4.
But the other side of the equation still needs work. Orlando’s defense has shown physicality, yet it has also piled up fouls and looked like a scheme still being ironed out.
The numbers reflect that. The Magic sit 27th in the league with a 114.6 defensive rating, though their first-half defensive rating of 110.1 is good for 12th in the preseason.
There are signs this end can come around, but it is not there yet.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner gave the offense a real jolt in the latest preseason action. In the first two games, both seemed to be easing into things, focused more on keeping the ball moving and making quick decisions than hunting their own shots.
That changed with the production. Banchero finished with 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting and eight rebounds, while Wagner posted 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting with eight assists, his second preseason game with more than five assists.
When those two are that efficient and that forceful, Orlando becomes a difficult team to handle.
There is also the Miami angle, and it is worth watching even in October. The Magic have won eight straight against the Heat dating back to last year’s preseason, including two preseason meetings, a five-game season series sweep that included the NBA Cup quarterfinal victory, and a Summer League win this summer.
Orlando went 8-5 against Miami over the last three years, split the 2025 season series and lost 3-1 in 2024. However you slice it, the Magic have had Miami’s number lately, and these games still carry weight for Orlando.
The question Friday may come down to how much each side wants to leave on the floor. This could be a game where both teams get the work they want and the starters are done before the final result is settled.
It could also be a night where Miami rests veteran starters like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson, which would tilt things heavily toward Orlando. Either way, the back end of the bench likely matters most.
That was an issue in Tuesday’s game, when the Osceola Magic group had trouble closing, and it nearly spoiled another promising night in the win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Magic should still get a worthwhile test. That is the point now: challenge the defense, find the weak spots, and force some problem-solving before the regular season starts.
There should be encouraging moments for Orlando’s starters. There will also be plenty left to clean up.
In Other News...
Magic Face Two Big Questions After Preseason Finale
A preseason win over the Miami Heat gave Orlando one last chance to sort through its roster before opening night, and the evaluation period quickly turned into a decision-making stretch. With the regular season set to begin against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 21, the Magic have already moved to trim the group, waiving Malaki Branham, JD Davison and Kevin Knox II as part of the final roster cuts.
The bigger concern now is health, after Franz Wagner, Jase Richardson and Noah Penda all left the game with different injury issues. Orlando still has time to settle things before the games start to count, but the final tune-up also underscored how much of the early-season picture depends on getting the rotation intact in the next few days. [Read more 🡒]
Magic's New Offense Is Clicking Just In Time For Real Test
The Magics preseason ended on a much cleaner offensive note, the kind of sign that can matter when a team is trying to define itself under a new coach. Orlando moved the ball better, spaced the floor more naturally and got a big night from Desmond Bane, who looked comfortable as one of the main engines of the attack in the finale.
Sean Sweeneys group now heads into the regular season with cautious optimism and a clearer sense of identity than it had a week or two ago. The larger question is whether the improved shooting and spacing from October can carry over when the games count and opponents start taking away the easy looks that were available in preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Magics New-Look Core Already Faces Pressure In Sean Sweeneys First Year
Sean Sweeney is stepping into a situation that already comes with some heat on it. After back-to-back play-in appearances and first-round playoff exits, the Magic are expected to keep moving forward with the new head coach in place for the 2026-27 season, and the bar is no longer just about getting back to the postseason. Orlando has tried to build a sturdier foundation, but in a crowded Eastern Conference, the margin for error is still thin.
The good news for the Magic is that there are reasons for optimism if the group can finally settle in together. Franz Wagners return is one of the factors that could lift the ceiling, but the bigger question is whether a reshaped core can click quickly enough to avoid another season spent fighting uphill. Even the floor of the projection leaves Orlando stuck near the play-in picture, which tells you how much pressure Sweeney and the roster are already carrying before the year really gets going. [Read more 🡒]