After a whirlwind week in Europe that saw the Orlando Magic split a pair of games with the Grizzlies-one in Berlin, one in London-the team is back stateside and back to business. Wednesday marked their return to the practice floor at the AdventHealth Training Center, and the focus was clear: reset, refocus, and ramp up for a crucial second half of the season.
“It was a really, really cool experience,” said Franz Wagner, reflecting on the overseas trip that held special meaning for him, his brother Moe Wagner, and rookie Tristan da Silva-all of whom have roots in Germany. “Something we’ll definitely never forget. Hopefully the other guys had a lot of fun out there too.”
But the sentiment was mutual across the locker room: as memorable as the trip was, it was a long week. The team is happy to be home.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley described Wednesday’s session as “spirited and physical,” a sign that the team is shaking off the jet lag and getting back into rhythm ahead of Thursday night’s matchup with the Hornets at Kia Center.
“No, we had a great practice,” Mosley said when asked if there were signs of fatigue from the travel. “It was great for getting their bodies moving.”
At 23-19, the Magic currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference. But the standings are tight-just 1.5 games separate Orlando from the third-place Knicks, and they’re only three games behind the second-seeded Celtics. That’s a manageable gap, especially with half a season still on the table.
Still, the team knows it hasn’t hit its stride yet.
“It’s fair to say we’re not where we want to be,” Wagner admitted. “That was a big part of today-realizing that we still have half the season left, and it’s kind of in our control. We haven’t played our best basketball, and we’ve got a lot left to prove.”
That mindset is especially important as Orlando continues to navigate injuries that have disrupted their rhythm. Wagner himself just returned in Berlin after missing 16 games with a left high ankle sprain. Jalen Suggs, meanwhile, has missed 14 of the last 16 games-including the last seven-with a right knee MCL bruise.
There’s reason for optimism, though. Suggs was upgraded to questionable for Thursday’s game, a sign that his return could be imminent.
“Jalen is getting better,” Mosley said. “He was doing a little bit of light contact today. As always, we’ll see how he responds and evaluate him tomorrow.”
Moe Wagner, who sat out the London game for left knee injury management, is also trending in the right direction. He’s not listed on the injury report for Thursday.
Injuries have certainly played a role in Orlando’s recent 5-5 stretch, but slow starts have been just as glaring. The Magic gave up 39 points in the first quarter to Memphis in Berlin, and then surrendered 40 more in the opening frame against the Grizzlies in London. The Hornets, who return to Orlando on Thursday, dropped 38 in the first quarter during their 15-point win at Kia Center back in late December.
It’s a pattern the team knows it has to break-and soon.
“It’s on everybody in the building to make sure we finish out the season the right way,” Wagner said. “Hopefully that means stringing some wins together and finding a rhythm as a team. That happens when you focus on each day and get better on both sides of the ball.”
The Magic have 11 games left before the All-Star break. That’s 11 chances to build momentum, tighten up the defense early in games, and put themselves in a stronger position heading into the stretch run.
They’ll start that push Thursday night, back at home in front of a crowd that’s been behind them all season.
“Our fans are the best,” Mosley said. “That energy in Kia Center is going to be huge for us.
Coming off an eight-day trip overseas, the travel, the time zones-that’s real. But that’s not going to be an excuse.
I think our guys are ready to go.”
Up Next:
Magic vs. Hornets - Thursday at Kia Center.