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Orlando Magic’s NBA Cup test loses its luster
Dec 8, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) thanks the crowd with a few seconds left in the game against the Phoenix Suns at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images | Jeremy Reper/Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
This was not how this game was supposed to go.
Following the Orlando Magic’s disappointing 121-106 loss to the New York Knicks last week, they could at least comfort themselves with two things: They still advanced in the NBA Cup, heading to the knockout round for the first time in the tournament’s second year. And they would get a chance for redemption against an established Eastern Conference titan on national TV.
It would be a re-reintroduction to the league.
Then Saturday, the Magic announced Franz Wagner would be out indefinitely with a torn right oblique, joining Paolo Banchero on the sideline with the exceedingly rare basketball injury. Orlando would play this critical NBA Cup knockout game without their two stars.
TNT did not even have time to take Wagner out of their promos for Tuesday’s night’s game.
For a Magic team sitting in third despite a difficult schedule to open the season – 16 of the first 26 games have been on the road – it still feels like they are paper champions. They have to prove themselves against the top teams in the East. Orlando needs something to prove they are contenders and competitive with the top teams in the conference.
That proof will have to come later – national TV appearances against the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers loom later in the season when Banchero at least should be healthy. Right now, Orlando is trying to put the pieces back together and figure out how to play.
The priority for Orlando is not to advance in the NBA Cup or prove themselves in the Eastern Conference. The priority right now is to reconfigure roles and find their way to play without their two stars.
Sunday’s win over the Phoenix Suns was at least encouraging on that front.
“We just talked about doing it by committee,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “That’s very important. Us getting 14 offensive rebounds is big because those are extra possessions. Especially, if you are not shooting the ball great. Our ability to crash the glass and get us the extra possession and share the ball and move and play the right way. It’s a group that plays together and by committee. Going into the cup game, we just have to continue to keep our same level of focus, defend and do it by committee again.”
Orlando will have to find points on the margins – scoring off turnovers, grabbing offensive rebounds for second-chance points and getting the foul line. The Magic could at least see the formula for that in their win.
Everything still turns back to their defense. Regardless of who is in or out, the Magic can lean on their defense to lead the way. Sunday’s game against the Suns was not a defensive masterpiece, but they buckled down in the fourth quarter to give up 23 points and ended with a 111.1 defensive rating, which would rank 11th in the league.
That might be enough to give the Magic a chance in most games.
Right now, there remains uncertainty over how players fill into roles and who will step up every night. Even Jalen Suggs feels like an uncertainty – look at how he scored four points in the first half but then poured in 14 in the second half when the team needed someone to take over for the win.
The Magic are still coming together again and figuring themselves out. Everyone admits it will take more than one game to make it all work.
Yet. . . this is a single-elimination tournament. That is the beauty of these kinds of competitions. Anything can happen. And the Magic are in Milwaukee with a chance and the confidence to advance.
“Honestly it is not much of a confidence boost because we have guys like Cole [Anthony] , AB [Anthony Black] , Tristan [Da Silva] who are ready to step up,” Jett Howard said. “We’re already confident. We just now have the opportunity that came by us. I just feel like the guys we’ve got in this locker room, I get confident when I look at them and they get confident when they look at the team around them. I think we have guys ready for the moment.”
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots over Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) during the first quarter in game six of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. | Kevin Jairaj/Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Whether you’re an NBA Cup convert or still a little dubious about the necessity of the in-season tournament, a primer might help. For one, the format has grown slightly less confusing moving into the eight team, single-elimination round — win or go home is pretty simple to follow. And if you’re hoping to soak up all the basketball you can in the minimal stretch of it through the next 10 days of Cup contention, you’re stuck with the tournament.
Let’s look at the four teams hitting the floor tonight.
Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks
The Magic were delivered a particularly cruel blow to what’s been a hybrid Cinderella and simultaneously gritty season, with Franz Wagner’s injury. Wagner is out with a torn right oblique, the same injury the Magic’s star and his running mate, Paolo Banchero, is out with. Wagner’s timeline is indefinite, while Banchero is gearing up for a return, but there’s a slim chance it will come within the In-Season’s tournaments bounds. The Magic don’t want nor have any reason to rush things.
That said, this team has shown a next man up mentality in its extremes. What’s usually a coach-coded turn of phrase is taken literally by Orlando’s roster. On Sunday against the Suns, Goga Bitadze put up 21 points, Jalen Suggs had 26, Cole Anthony chipped in 14 and Franz Wagner’s elder brother, Moritz Wagner, came up with 10. All down the roster, everyone is doing a little bit of everything, and while the frustration is certainly there in losing two of their best players, it’s not what’s fuelling their effort.
The Bucks won’t be an easy team to beat, but the Magic will throw everything at them.
The Bucks are coming off a losing skid, beating the Nets over the weekend, are playing at home, and have gone undefeated in tournament games. Gary Trent Jr., who started the season off quiet, has looked great and Bobby Portis, who some fans have felt a cooling off for, is still filling the gaps where his team needs him to. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have averaged 29.3 points in tournament play, and Khris Middleton is back to round out that arsenal of very deep shooting.
Still, they find a unique matchup with the Magic though, given that Orlando’s defence allows the least amount of threes in the league. Even short-handed, the Magic will be pushing Milwaukee’s shooting threats as far out as they can, or else double- and triple-teaming them.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Mavs have found their footing after a slippery start to the season, winning seven of their last eight matches. Simultaneously, Luka Doncic was named Western Conference Player of the Week — he’s been averaging 29.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game over the last week.
The last time the Mavs and Thunder faced each other, OKC was short Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, and Isaiah Hartenstein and the Mavs were with Doncic. Now, all but Holmgren are back on the floor on what’s going to be a fun, potentially chippy, and playoff preview style game.
Doncic is traditionally loathe to hide his in-game reactions and mood, while the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is unreadable, cool as anything partially as a way to further frustrate opponents. The two of them face-to-face, given their signature handles, disruptive flow, and steps ahead playmaking makes for a compelling matchup with an extra layer of body language translation.
The one weakness OKC has that the Mavs can capitalize on is bullying Hartenstein and hoping for early foul trouble. As the big man’s come back into the Thunder’s typical small-ball rotation, he’s been getting into foul trouble. It’s been manageable, but the Mavs will be looking to press it.
Both these teams are at different points in their competitive trajectories; the Mavs have felt a regression while the Thunder are finally and fully surging with confidence and the skill to back it up. It feels a little like a contested passing of the West’s proverbial torch, with OKC hungry for it and Dallas’ loathe to give it up. It’ll be good basketball.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Must Read How the Raptors’ RJ Barrett ended up exactly where he needs to be. (SportsNet)
Preview The Orlando Magic prepare to face the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup amid injury updates for Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. The games are crucial for the team’s standing. (Orlando Sentinel)
Preview The Magic face the Bucks at Fiserv Forum at 7:30 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
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Fantasy Cheat Sheet
NBA Cup Quarterfinals: Key Fantasy Basketball Streaming Strategies
Dec 8, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) dribbles the ball against the Phoenix Suns in the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images | Jeremy Reper/Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
As we gear up for the NBA Cup quarterfinals, it’s crucial to identify where the streaming value lies for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. With only two games on Tuesday, the schedule is light, but the potential for strategic plays is significant.
Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks
The Orlando Magic face off against the Milwaukee Bucks, with the Bucks entering as seven-point favourites. The Magic are dealing with significant injuries, with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Gary Harris out, while Jonathan Isaac is questionable. This opens up opportunities for Cole Anthony, who is expected to step up in the absence of key players. Anthony’s scoring potential makes him a valuable addition to your fantasy roster, especially with the Magic needing someone to fill the scoring void.
On the Bucks’ side, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and MarJon Beauchamp are listed as probable.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Dallas Mavericks take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in what promises to be an exciting matchup. The Thunder are slight favourites, and both teams have straightforward schedules, playing Tuesday and then either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the outcome.
The status of Paul Washington Jr. and Naji Marshall is uncertain, which could lead to increased minutes for players like Spencer Dinwiddie and Quentin Grimes.
Click the button below to get more tips on streaming options for this week of action.
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