Magic Refocus on Defense as Injuries Test Their Depth
ORLANDO - After a tough loss to the Knicks in the NBA Cup semifinal and with a four-game West Coast swing on deck, the Orlando Magic are going back to what’s worked for them all season: defense.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley didn’t mince words after Tuesday’s practice. When asked what the focus was, his answer was immediate and direct: “Defense.”
And that’s not just coach-speak. For a team that’s built its early-season success on grit, physicality, and team-first basketball, getting back to those defensive roots feels less like a reset and more like a necessary recalibration-especially with key players like Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner sidelined.
“It’s going to be very important for us,” Mosley said, acknowledging the toll the season has already taken on his roster. “Guys in, guys out, injuries, bodies beat up a little bit.
But we’ve always talked about it-next man up. Also knowing who’s in that rotation with you, how to play alongside that guy, and being able to sit down and guard the right way.
That’s what we really dove into today.”
At 15-11 and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference, Orlando has held its own despite a revolving door of player availability. Paolo Banchero recently returned after missing 10 games with a groin strain, but just as he was getting back into rhythm, Wagner went down with a high ankle sprain against the Knicks on December 7. Less than a week later, Suggs took a hard fall in the NBA Cup semifinal and was diagnosed with a hip contusion.
The initial fear was that Wagner’s injury could be more severe, so his diagnosis brought a collective sigh of relief. The same goes for Suggs, who avoided anything long-term.
“Well, it’s always good to know what’s going on with the guy,” Mosley said. “Where their pain tolerance is, and why they’re feeling something. So for [Suggs] to get those results-not being as bad as we thought-is very good.”
Neither player has a set return date. The team announced Monday that both Suggs and Wagner will be evaluated based on how they respond to treatment. It’s a wait-and-see approach, but in the meantime, Suggs is staying active in a different way-by being a vocal presence on the sidelines.
“Just continue to have good conversation,” Suggs said. “Give input when I feel the time is right, and just stay a part of the team.
Injury doesn’t take you or make you anything else. Just keep talking, keep a presence, and be excited for these guys to get a chance to win.”
That kind of mentality matters. The Magic are a young team, but they’ve shown maturity beyond their years this season.
They defend with purpose, play for each other, and don’t shy away from physicality. That identity will be tested over the next week as they hit the road, starting with a tough matchup in Denver against the defending champs on December 18.
Before that, they’ll get in one more practice on Wednesday-another chance to fine-tune the defensive principles that have carried them this far. With their depth being tested and rotations shifting, the Magic know exactly what they need to lean on.
Defense. It’s what got them here, and it’s what they’re banking on to carry them through the grind of the season.