The Orlando Magic head into a difficult stretch with Paolo Banchero unavailable after the All-Star forward suffered an ankle sprain in Friday’s 115-93 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
That defeat had plenty of problems baked into it from the start. Orlando shot poorly, got beat on the glass and never found enough scoring punch to keep pace.
The Magic also leaned on the three-point shot all night, and it simply didn’t go down. After opening the season by going 13-for-40 from deep in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando followed that up by hitting just 8 of 39 attempts from beyond the arc against Minnesota.
The Timberwolves were not exactly scorching, either. Minnesota shot 42.9% from the field and 37.8% from 3-point range, while All-Star backcourt teammates Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball combined to shoot 9-for-36. But the Wolves kept creating extra possessions, and that was the difference.
Minnesota grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, repeatedly extending possessions and forcing Orlando into a grind it couldn’t win. Even though the Timberwolves finished just 6-for-17 on second-chance chances, Magic coach Sean Sweeney said the constant stream of those opportunities made the battle feel like one long attrition test.
For Orlando, the frustrating part is that some of these issues are fixable. The harder part is that the schedule isn’t giving them much breathing room.
The next few weeks will be heavy on the road, with 10 of the Magic’s next 15 games coming away from the Kia Center. That stretch begins with a trip to face the New York Knicks on Sunday, then continues after two days off with games against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday and Friday.
The second matchup with Toronto will open Emirates NBA Cup play for both teams. Last season, Orlando split the regular-season series with the Knicks in the 2025-26 campaign, though the Magic lost to New York in the NBA Cup Semifinal. Against Toronto, the Raptors won the season series 2-1, and they handed Orlando its worst loss in franchise history on March 29, a 139-87 defeat.
Those road games now arrive with Banchero sidelined, raising the degree of difficulty for a team still searching for its first regular-season win under Sweeney.
In Other News...
Magic Already Face A Sean Sweeney Problem Without Paolo
The early read on Orlando under Sean Sweeney has not been flattering, and the timing could hardly be worse with Paolo Banchero sidelined. After dropping its first two regular-season games, the Magic are still figuring out how to function in a new system while trying to preserve the defensive edge that has defined them in recent seasons.
What has stood out so far is less about shot-making than about habits that have usually been the clubs calling card. The Magic have looked softer on the glass and less imposing physically, which is a real concern for a team that has built so much of its identity around defense and rebounding. Until that side of the floor sharpens, the growing pains under Sweeney will keep drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Head To New York Needing Answers Before An 0-2 Hole
Orlando heads to New York looking to steady itself after an uneven start, with both teams still searching for that first win and trying to avoid digging an early-season hole. The matchup sets up as a good test of the Magics identity, since they have been pushing the pace while also dealing with some of the usual early questions that come with a new season, especially on the glass.
A clean look at the rotation matters here, too, because Orlandos backcourt and wing mix will be worth watching before tipoff. Jose Alvarado remains questionable with a left ankle sprain, leaving a small wrinkle in the game plan as the Magic try to sort out how they want to attack a Knicks team that is also trying to find its footing. [Read more 🡒]