Magic Find Their Spark in Europe: Anthony Black’s Dunk, Team Chemistry, and a Turning Point in the Season
If you’re looking for a moment that captures the Orlando Magic’s season to this point - the grit, the youth, the flashes of brilliance - look no further than Anthony Black’s dunk in Berlin. With two minutes left in a tie game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Black took flight and threw down a thunderous slam over four defenders.
It wasn’t just a highlight; it was a statement. The kind that echoes through a locker room and maybe, just maybe, shifts the trajectory of a season.
The Magic went on to win that game, marking their first back-to-back victories since early December. And while the win itself was big, the energy it sparked might be even bigger.
“It was insane,” Wendell Carter said after practice in London on Saturday. “I was on the court and saw it live, but then I watched the replay - that was probably one of the best dunks I’ve seen in a very long time.”
That kind of moment sticks with a team. And for a young squad like Orlando, it might be the kind of jolt they’ve been waiting for.
A European Reset
This overseas trip - first Berlin, now London - has come at a crucial time for the Magic. The team has been navigating a season full of injuries and inconsistency.
They’ve had their moments, sure, but stringing them together has been the challenge. Now, with Moe Wagner and Franz Wagner returning to the floor, Orlando is finally starting to look whole again.
And that’s no small thing.
Desmond Bane, who’s quickly become one of the team’s emotional leaders, sees this trip as more than just a couple of games on the schedule.
“I think it’s something we’re going to be able to build off of throughout the season,” Bane said. “Just an opportunity for us to come together.
It’s a different pace - being in one city for a few days, spending more time with each other. I think it’s a lot of positive momentum heading in the right direction.”
That extra time together matters. The long flights, the shared meals, the cultural experiences - they’re all part of the bonding process.
In Berlin, the Wagner brothers hosted a team dinner that brought everyone together, from Paolo Banchero to Wendell Carter. It wasn’t just about schnitzel and stories - it was about deepening the kind of relationships that translate to chemistry on the court.
“Being in unfamiliar territory just with a group of guys that you are familiar with just allows us to come closer,” Black said. “We’re forced to be on the road.
We’re in another country. We have to hang out.”
That togetherness showed up in Thursday’s game. It wasn’t just the dunk - it was how the team responded in the face of adversity.
Growth in the Grind
Let’s not forget: the Magic had an 11-point lead in that game and watched it slip away. Memphis came all the way back and even took a three-point lead late.
But Orlando didn’t fold. Franz Wagner hit a clutch three to tie it, the defense forced a turnover, and then Black delivered the exclamation point.
That’s not just talent - that’s maturity.
Wendell Carter sees the growth.
“I would say maturity, especially as young of a team as we are,” Carter said. “It can be very easy to let games slip away.
But on the flip side, looking back at some of those close games that we won, it should have never come down to a last-second shot or a go-ahead bucket when we were up for most of the game. At the end of the day, it’s a win-or-lose league.
To come away with a win is always important.”
And the numbers back it up. Orlando is 15-8 in clutch games this season - second-most clutch wins in the league.
They’ve played in a lot of tight contests, and while they’d love to clean up some of those fourth quarters, they’re finding ways to win. That’s a sign of a team learning how to close.
The Magic aren’t just surviving - they’re starting to evolve.
Building Toward Something Bigger
There’s a quiet confidence building within this group. They’ve taken some lumps, sure, but they’ve also shown resilience. They’ve stayed together through the rough patches, and now they’re starting to reap the rewards.
“There are no goals that can get done individually,” Black said. “It’s a team sport.
For myself, my teammates put a lot of trust into me. A lot of responsibility.
It’s huge. This team - everybody wants each other to do well.
It’s easy to be part of the team. We have great teammates and everybody works really hard.
It’s easy to work toward one goal together.”
That goal - making noise in the Eastern Conference and building a sustainable winner - is still very much in reach. The Magic know the season hasn’t been perfect, but they’ve kept the faith. And now, they’re starting to look like a team that believes in itself again.
Sunday’s rematch in London offers a chance to solidify that momentum. A win would give Orlando a sweep of their European tour and a clear sign that they’re heading into the second half of the season with renewed purpose.
If Anthony Black’s dunk was the spark, the rest of this trip might be the fuel. And for a team still figuring out exactly how high its ceiling is, that might be the most important development of all.