Magic Summer League Win Came With One Concerning Development

The Orlando Magic showcased depth and resilience in their thrilling overtime comeback against the Trail Blazers, setting an impressive tone for their Summer League journey.

The Magic had to grind for this one.

Playing the second night of a back-to-back without second-year pros Jase Richardson and Noah Penda, Orlando erased a double-digit hole and outlasted the Trail Blazers 112-105 in overtime Sunday inside Cox Pavilion at UNLV. It was the Magic’s second straight Summer League win, and it came with a lineup built around a familiar mix of two-way players and G League holdovers.

TyTy Washington Jr. and Philip Wheeler joined Lester Quinones, Colin Castleton and Alex Morales in the starting five. That group, with Quinones, Castleton and Morales all having spent last season with Osceola, helped Orlando survive a game that kept swinging back and forth before the Magic finished it with an 11-4 edge in the extra period.

Quinones was the headliner. He scored 30 points to lead all scorers, Castleton added 21 and Wheeler chipped in 18. Keon Johnson’s two free throws tied the game at 101 with 6.2 seconds left in regulation, but Orlando answered in overtime with Wheeler burying a 3-pointer from the top of the key to open the period and Morales following with a triple from the right corner.

The comeback took shape after Orlando spent much of the first half chasing. The Magic fell behind by as many as 15 points before clawing all the way back to grab their first lead at 64-62 with 2:51 left in the third quarter. The teams were deadlocked at 71 entering the fourth, setting up the late-game scramble.

Quinones kept the pressure on Portland from deep, beating the buzzer at the end of the second quarter for his second 3-pointer of the game and then knocking down two more early in the fourth. Wheeler’s night also featured a running dunk in the fourth before his overtime dagger from beyond the arc.

There was one concern for Orlando: second-round pick Izaiyah Nelson left early after a collision in the second quarter. Around the seven-minute mark, Nelson came flying in for a block but landed on Washington, who was trying to take a charge on Quincy Olivari’s layup attempt. Nelson was later diagnosed with a sprained left ankle and is day-to-day.

Portland got 20 points from Jayson Kent, while Chris Youngblood added 14 and Olivari scored 13 off the bench. The Trail Blazers shot 37% from 3-point range, going 15 for 41, but Orlando was sharper from distance at 48%, finishing 12 for 25.

The Magic’s decision to sit Richardson and Penda was tied to the back-to-back and also gave other players further down the depth chart a chance to get their first run in Las Vegas. Cam Reddish missed his third straight Summer League game because of a right knee bone bruise, and Portland was without 2025 No. 16 pick Yang Hansen due to an illness, the team said.

Penda’s two-game line in Las Vegas has been strong: 17.5 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2.5 blocks in 28.7 minutes per game. Richardson has averaged 15 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal across 30.2 minutes per game.

Orlando now gets two days off before facing the 76ers on Wednesday night at Thomas & Mack Center at 7 p.m. on ESPNU. After that, the Magic will play a fifth Summer League game based on the outcome of their first four exhibitions.

In Other News...

Paolo Banchero Just Put Real Pressure On Orlandos Next Step

Paolo Banchero is already setting a higher bar for himself as Orlando heads into the new season, and the timing matters. In a recent interview, the Magic forward talked through his personal goals and the teams bigger picture, making clear that he wants to sharpen his efficiency while taking on even more of the offensive load. He also pointed to the arrival of new head coach Sean Sweeney as part of the backdrop for what comes next, with the sense that Orlandos next step is supposed to be more than incremental.

Bancheros confidence extends beyond his own numbers, too. He sees a conference that can be attacked, and he believes the Magic have enough to make noise in the East if the group comes together the right way. For a team trying to turn promise into something sturdier, that kind of expectation is useful, but it also raises the standard in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]

Magic Rookie Suddenly Faces A Major Camp Setback

Orlandos rookie camp plans took a hit when Izaiyah Nelson went down in a Summer League game, a reminder that even the quietest parts of the offseason can reshape a young players path. For a team trying to sort out its next wave of frontcourt depth, losing a developmental big before the calendar even turns to training camp is the kind of setback that can slow both evaluation and momentum.

Nelson is expected to be sidelined for three to four months, which puts his availability for the start of the season in doubt and leaves the Magic waiting on a player they were hoping to get more looks at soon. For a rookie trying to make an impression, the timing is especially rough, because the next stretch of work is usually where roster battles and early opportunities start to take shape. [Read more 🡒]