Sean Sweeney’s first game guiding Orlando came with the kind of start every coach wants: a fast one, a sharp one, and a road win to go with it.
The Magic opened their preseason Wednesday night in Memphis and controlled the tone early, building an 18-point lead in the first quarter before holding off the Grizzlies 122-118. It was the first preseason win for Orlando, and it came in a game that carried a little extra weight for a few people on the floor.
For Sweeney, it was his debut as head coach of the Magic, the 16th in franchise history. For Desmond Bane, it was his first game back inside FedExForum since Orlando acquired him in a blockbuster trade more than a year ago.
Orlando didn’t have its starters on the floor for long, but the group that opened the night made an immediate impression. The Magic moved the ball with pace and purpose, finishing with 35 assists on 41 made field goals. That ball movement fed a strong night from deep, where Orlando hit 20 of 45 shots from 3-point range, good for 44%.
Second-year guard Jase Richardson got the start in place of Jalen Suggs, who missed the game because of an illness. Richardson lined up with Bane, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr., and Sweeney had said before tipoff that he would give the core a “good run” to help them get their feet feet.
That mostly held true. The regulars played 13-15 minutes, with Bane, Banchero and Wagner sitting out the second half. Richardson logged 23 minutes and finished with three points, three rebounds and three assists.
Bane wasted no time settling in, knocking down his first three 3-point attempts from the left wing and helping Orlando get rolling early. Wagner didn’t connect on any of his three tries from deep, but he still played a major role in the offense, frequently initiating the action and piling up seven of Orlando’s 18 first-half assists. He also had two steals.
Banchero kept pressure on Memphis by getting to the line early and often. He made seven of his first 10 free throws on the way to 11 points by halftime, and he added five assists.
Orlando was also missing Anthony Black, who sat with a right ankle sprain, Jonathan Isaac for personal reasons and Noah Penda because of a right hamstring strain.
The first wave off the bench featured Goga Bitadze, Jamal Cain, Jevon Carter, Tristan da Silva and two-way forward Alex Morales. Da Silva was the biggest spark of the reserve group, drilling three 3-pointers in the third quarter and finishing with 19 points in 25 minutes while going 4 for 10 from beyond the arc.
Veteran center Nikola Vucevic joined the perimeter parade too, hitting three triples from near the top of the key.
Cain chipped in 15 points in 22 minutes and threw down two dunks off feeds from Carter, who posted six assists and five points in 19 minutes. Cain’s best moment came late in the second quarter with a one-handed slam.
Morales got on the floor early, entering with 3:53 left in the first quarter, and brought energy right away. He battled for loose balls and on the glass, finishing with 10 rebounds, including five offensive boards, plus four points in 24 minutes. He shot 2 for 5 and missed two 3-point attempts.
Two-way center Colin Castleton checked in with about eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and finished with four points and a block in limited late action.
Memphis got 16 points and six rebounds from No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer in 22 minutes, while Ty Jerome led the Grizzlies with 17 points.
Orlando now returns home briefly before heading out again for its second preseason game Sunday at Cleveland at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
In Other News...
Grizzlies Preseason Loss Exposed A New Problem Memphis Needs To Watch
The preseason opener in Memphis gave the Magic an early look at how their offense may be shaped without a full lineup on the floor. Orlando handled a 122-118 win over the Grizzlies, and the game plan leaned heavily on Franz Wagner, who helped steer the attack in his 14 minutes while also contributing on the defensive end. With Anthony Black and Jalen Suggs unavailable, the rotation opened up for players such as Richardson, Alex Morales and Jamal Cain, creating a useful first snapshot of how the bench pieces fit when the ball is moving through different hands.
For Orlando, the broader takeaway was less about the final score and more about the shape of the offense when the usual guard options are missing. Wagners role was clearly central, but the game also offered extended run for lesser-used pieces who had to absorb real minutes in a competitive setting. How much of that distribution sticks once the roster gets closer to full strength is the part worth watching next, because the preseason can quickly reveal which lineup combinations are sustainable and which ones are only temporary fixes. [Read more 🡒]
Zach Edey Reaches A Big Grizzlies Checkpoint After Long Absence
Zach Edey is set to rejoin the Memphis Grizzlies for their upcoming preseason game against the Orlando Magic, a notable step after he missed time following two left ankle procedures. For the Grizzlies, getting the center back on the floor even in a preseason setting offers another chance to gauge where he stands physically and how quickly he can fit back into the rotation work the team wants to sort out before the games start to count.
Orlando will be dealing with a different kind of preseason challenge, with several players sidelined because of illness, injury or personal reasons. The matchup also comes as Memphis continues to use the exhibition slate to build rhythm, and point guard Ty Jerome said preseason is a chance for the team to evaluate performance and keep sharpening details, even if the results themselves are not the main point yet. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Morales Is Giving The Magic A Reason To Trust Him
Alex Morales kept showing up in the places that matter most for a two-way player, and the preseason win over the Memphis Grizzlies gave Orlando another look at why the organization has taken notice. He was active on the offensive glass, stayed involved in possessions and found ways to help the Magic without needing the ball in his hands much, which is often the formula for players fighting to earn trust in this spot.
Coach Sean Sweeney singled out the kind of value Morales brings when the box score does not always capture the full picture. For Orlando, those energy plays and extra possessions matter, especially in a preseason setting where role players are trying to prove they can keep the standard high. Morales did enough in Memphis to make that case a little stronger, and he left the impression of someone who understands exactly what is being asked of him. [Read more 🡒]