Locked On Magic - Daily Podcast On The Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic crushed the Dallas Mavericks behind an energetic effort throughout the roster. It was a clear response to their coach challenging them after a frustrating defeat on Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks.

Several key players who are central to the team's energy stepped up, including Wendell Carter. Carter is not won to be loud with his play. But he scored a season-high 28 points to lead the Magic to a runaway victory, building as much as a 30-point lead.

Despite the step in the right direction, the Magic still have a lot to clean...

The Orlando Magic brought Franz Wagner back from injury, even with just seven games remaining. It is a big risk considering his false starts coming back from the high ankle sprain that has cost him most of his season.

Wagner is not one to quit on the season with time remaining. But with so little to play for, what can the Magic gain from playing Wagner in the final two weeks of the season?

They can get a proof of concept of their main core working as they try to build and prepare for next...

The Orlando Magic reached another breaking point as frustration erupted at the Kia Center in the form of boos and chants to fire Jamahl Mosley. The team hit another rough game where they folded after a strong start. Even with Franz Wagner returning to the lineup, the Magic could not find the energy to get back into the game.

The Magic started off well enough and took an early lead. But when the Hawks put on a run in the second quarter, the Magic again wilted and again could not respond to a playoff-level team.

...

The Orlando Magic let their defense lead the way as they scored a huge win over the Phoenix Suns, 115-111. The Magic held the Suns to one field goal in the final 5.5 minutes to give their offense the time to pull away and get the shots they needed to win the game.

Is this the momentum-building response the Magic need as the Playoff race tightens and the season draws to an end?

This was far from a perfect game, filled with fouls and turnovers that kept the Magic from being fully rewarded for their efforts...

The Orlando Magic are at a crossroads as they approach the end of their season. They are clearly moving on from their coach. But it will take more than a coaching change to right the ship and get the Magic back on track.

The pressure this summer is on Jeff Weltman to reshape the roster and be aggressive to improve the team. It is on him to turn this team from one that has focused mostly on rebuilding and focus more on players who can help the Magic win in the short term. Their window to win...

The Orlando Magic suffered their worst loss in franchise history, falling 139-87 to the Toronto Raptors. What makes it worse is that they did so in a game that everyone acknowledged was vital to their Playoff chase. The Magic seem destined for the Play-In tournament and a summer of some extreme changes.

The Magic have lacked an identity all year. The defense that powered the team to the Playoffs in the last two years. But that defense has been nonexistent all year long and mediocre at best. The Magic do not know what they can rely on...

The Orlando Magic snapped their six-game losing streak thanks to some timely shots and a big fourth-quarter run that finally gave them breathing room and some much-needed relief.

The Magic needed to get a win any way that they could, even if it came with another poor defensive effort and by the skin of their teeth against a tanking Sacramento Kings team.

The win was thanks in large part to another stellar effort from Paolo Banchero. Banchero has stepped up his game in March, and he has taken on more responsibility and leadership during this...

The Orlando Magic seem destined for a trip to the Play-In for a second straight season. They have 10 games to determine where they will ultimately finish in the standings and regain some pride and respectability to close the season.

The Magic's season is undoubtedly one of the most disappointing in franchise history no matter how things finish this season. Orlando is merely trying to salvage a piece of their identity, momentum for the offseason and proof that they can be more next season. It is all small with so many of the team's bigger decisions likely already...

The Orlando Magic's Playoff hopes hang by a thread after a sixth straight loss. Paolo Banchero looked like a superstar again, carrying the Magic into the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with another 36 points. But his team struggled to step up and support him and the defense never stiffened, allowing Donovan Mitchell and James Harden to outshine him.

It is clear -- and has been clear -- that there are major roster deficiencies. Already there are big questions that the Magic need to ask: How much have this season's shortcomings been credited to injuries and how much...

The Orlando Magic unraveled in a crushing 128-126 loss to one of the league's worst teams in the Indiana Pacers. The team found itself down early, outworked and out physicaled, giving the Pacers confidence to close the game and end a 16-game losing streak. Orlando has now lost five straight games and their playoff hopes are fading.

Where is the urgency that this team needs? Where is the team peaking heading to the Playoffs? Where is the team's identity it relies on?

The Magic have been searching for these things all season long. And while...

The Orlando Magic's playoff hopes truly teeter on the edge after their crushing loss to the Los Angeles on Saturday. The team is still in the race just a game behind the Toronto Raptors for fifth, but they are warding off teams around them and below them in a tightening race. The final 12 games will be a challenge for the Magic.

But they still have several advantages. They play fewer games against teams at the top of the conference than their opponents and still have five games against teams at the bottom of the standings. The Magic...

The Orlando Magic let a sure victory slip away against the Los Angeles Lakers. Their poor execution on the final three plays were symbolic of cascading errors throughout the game that cost the Magic a chance for a huge victory as their grip in the Eastern Conference playoff race quickly fades.

These errors were nothing new for the Magic. They made similar mistakes in previous games, and those mistakes popped up time and time again. The Magic's poor decision-making and poor attention to detail shows up in late games and is costing them.

Paolo Banchero...

The Orlando Magic's momentum has stalled as their once-unbreakable connection is faltering in another blowout loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Jamahl Mosley tried to spur his team into some momentum by getting ejected, but the team continued to look a bit lost on both ends and could not keep up with a Hornets team that took advantage of every mistake and buried them with 3-pointers.

Orlando simply did not have the shooting or confidence to keep up with a stellar effort from the Hornets. And the team fell further behind as they got more disconnected.

...

The clock is ticking for the Orlando Magic as the season winds down and the Eastern Conference playoff race tightens in the final weeks of the season.

The Magic are still waiting to be whole again as Franz Wagner continues to work his way back from a high left ankle sprain. But time is running out with just four weeks and 14 games remaining. Wagner is not yet playing live. These games will go quickly.

The Magic need Wagner to return to make their Playoff push and have a chance to get out of the first...

The Orlando Magic got a taste of the Playoffs as the Oklahoma City Thunder out-executed down the stretch to beat them despite the Magic's energetic effort. The Thunder made the little plays down the stretch to pull ahead and tip a close game in their favor. That will be the difference for the Magic when they get to the playoffs.

Despite a stellar showing from Paolo Banchero, there were a lot of issues for the Magic. None may be bigger than the team's struggling bench. There are a lot of rotation decisions to sort out as the...

The Orlando Magic's seven-game win streak ended with a disappointing 124-112 loss to the streaking Atlanta Hawks. The worst version of the Magic showed up as they struggled to find the energy and intensity that characterized their win streak. It was a stark reminder of how close the worst version of themselves is to coming to the surface.

The Hawks looked like the team that wanted it more. And the rest of the Magic's season will come down to the test of their will to play with the intensity they need as the Eastern Conference playoff race...

The Orlando Magic kept their Playoff surge alive, holding on for a 121-117 victory over the Miami Heat, extending their win streak to seven games and completing a five-game season series sweep over their archrivals.

The Magic's win streak has showcased what makes this team special, and a return to the team's key identity of resilience and defense have helped propel the team up the standings.

Still, the Magic have had a penchant for blowing leads and needing to hang on for wins. There is still a lot for this team to grow on. And...

The Orlando Magic escaped with an overtime win against the Washington Wizards for their sixth straight game. But it obviously was not easy for the Magic despite the difference in the teams' quality.

The Magic were slow and looked fatigued on the second night of a back-to-back, missing many of the details that have powered them through this win streak. That nearly cost them as the Washington Wizards rallied from as much as a 19-point deficit to make a seemingly simple win a frantic finish.

The players who saved the day were the two who...

The Orlando Magic surged past the Cleveland Cavaliers behind Desmond Bane's electrifying 35-point performance and another strong defensive showing from Paolo Banchero for their fifth win in a row in a 128-122 victory.

The win serves notice that the Magic are a player in the Eastern Conference as they take over the 5-seed in the conference. This was a major win against a quality team that shows the team can still compete in the East. And they may be a sneaky team when the Playoffs begin.

The team's breakout is finally here as they realize...

Desmond Bane has found his footing in his new home in Orlando. He has been a consistent and driving force to keep the Orlando Magic in the playoff race and drive them up the standings.

Bane has delivered everything the Magic could hope for and more. After averaging 23 points per game and posting a 50-40-90 shooting performance, he is the MVP of the Magic's third quarter of the season.

As the Magic move into the final quarter of their season, injuries remain a huge story as they wait for Franz Wagner to return from...

A shocking decision from the Orlando Magic and Jonathan Isaac leaked out on Sunday. The Magic and Isaac amended the trigger for his guarantee clause to June 28 rather than 52 games played.

That certainly signals the Magic are planning to move on from Isaac this offseason in a ruthless effort to shed a major salary from their cap sheet. The realities of being in the tax and the first apron are hitting this team early.

Despite the decision, Isaac still has a big role to play for the Magic this season and in their playoff chase...

The Orlando Magic dismantled the Milwaukee Bucks as the team continues to make its Playoff push and climb up the standings. The Magic's defensive edge has returned, holding the Bucks to 91 points and 36 points in the second half to runaway with a 130-91 victory.

Everything starts with the Magic's star player in Paolo Banchero. He dominated from the beginning with 26 of his 33 points in the first half to set the tone on offense and really on both ends for the team. He has stepped his game up since the All-Star Break, providing the leadership and intangibles this...

The Orlando Magic overpowered the Minnesota Timberwolves with a dominant paint presence to runaway with the victory 119-92. Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane helped set the tone with their constant attacks to the basket. Can the Magic revive their aggressive, paint-based mentality as they hit the final 20 games of the season?

Both Bane and Banchero set the tone with 30 and 25 points, respectively, both working a lot in the paint and not on the perimeter. That mentality permeated the entire team as they kept the Timberwolves from finding a rhythm and constantly pressured them at the rim on...

The Orlando Magic stunned the Dallas Mavericks with Wendell Carter's clutch dunk with a second remaining, scoring the last five points of the game to erase a late four-point deficit.

With the Playoffs coming into focus, every win matters, and this was one the team absolutely needed to have. It proved the team's will to win and how their energy for the full 48 minutes can deliver them into the Playoffs.

Still, the Magic looked lethargic for much of the game and were hunting for that trademark energy, only finding it in the third quarter and...

What does it take to transform a good team into a championship team? That is the ultimate question facing a team like the Orlando Magic.

One person who knows what that rise is like and how to win is former Magic forward Horace Grant. He is preparing to debut a new show called Legends in Session that will dive into the minds and experiences of successful players. Few have experienced as much success as Grant.

He speaks about what it took to win a championship with the Chicago Bulls and be a guiding voice for...

The Orlando Magic's playoff future hinges on Paolo Banchero. But there are more questions than ever about Banchero as questions about the franchise's future amid a frustrating season continue to swirl. This week's public airing of the team's struggles against the Detroit Pistons only fueled the fire surrounding the team.

No matter the answers the Magic find this offseason, it will be on Banchero to lead the team deeper into the Playoffs and answer the call, turning the team into a championship contender.

Since the break, Banchero seems to be answering that call, making a...

The Orlando Magic crushed the Washington Wizards as Paolo Banchero dominated with 37 points and dominated the interior. The Magic did what they had to do to defeat the Wizards.

Orlando's 126-109 victory required the team to focus on its details and play to its standard in order to get the win. The team was challenged at halftime to come out more focused to put the game away. They delivered a professional win against a bad team.

00:00 Magic Overcome Wizards with Intensity

06:22 Magic Respond to Halftime Challenge

11:12 Goga Bitadze Seizes Opportunity

The Orlando Magic's postseason hopes hinge on Jalen Suggs finding his rhythm and returning to his impactful shooting and defense. Since returning from his knee injury in January, he has struggled to return to his full rhythm.

If the Magic are going to make a push to get the 6-seed, they need Suggs to be an impactful player on both ends. And Suggs is still seeking his rhythm, even beyond his two difficult games since returning from his back injury.

The Magic have still turned a corner. Their defense has been among the league's elite...

The Detroit Pistons showed the Orlando Magic why they are a contending team and why the Orladno Magic are struggling to reach that level. The Pistons displayed poise and composure to dismantle the Magic in the second half.

Orlando failed to execute, making repeated mistakes that allowed things to snowball and for Detroit to run away with the victory. That led to another second-half collapse and another big run that kept the Magic from competing.

Once again, Paolo Banchero was left alone to try to create and the Magic did not have many ideas to...

The Orlando Magic collapsed after holding a 19-point lead, falling 113-108 to the Houston Rockets. Kevin Durant's late-game heroics proved the difference. But a 20-0 third-quarter run erased their lead as the Magic continued to trip over themselves.

This team is still learning how to close out tough opponents. And put all their pieces together.

Jalen Suggs returned from his back injury but struggled, especially during the Rockets' third-quarter run. The Magic are still trying to regulate their emotions and play with maturity and poise. That cost them once again.

00:00  Close Games Define G...

The Orlando Magic have been on a surge lately, winning six of their last eight games. Both Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane have found their shooting groove to carry the team to victories in the last few weeks.

As the schedule stiffens up, can they continue this momentum through a daunting March schedule?

The Magic have reestablished their defensive identity in the last eight games. That is a good start as the team tries to put the pieces together at long last. But upcoming games against the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons will determine if...

The Orlando Magic outlasted the Los Angeles Lakers with their grit, defense and determination in yet another signal of their potential resurgence.

Several players rose to the occasion, including Wendell Carter with his game-winning putback with six seconds to play. Paolo Banchero, too, has been stepping up lately, not only increasing his scoring and passing production but also taking on big challenges defensively to lead his team forward.

The Magic may have only eked out the win over the Lakers, 110-109, but the Magic are starting to resemble more the team they thought they would...

The Orlando Magic hope their win Sunday over the LA Clippers and their response to the double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns will be a turning point in their season. Will they finally put the pieces together and win more consistently?

That will be one of the big things they will find out on Tuesday when they face the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are another team that have vastly outperformed their stats and outperformed by winning close games. It will be a battle between two teams that still have a lot to improve on.

...

Desmond Bane powered the Orlando Magic past the LA Clippers with a 36-point explosion. It proved once again he was worth the heavy investment the Magic made in the offseason as they now try to ride this hot shooting into the Playoffs.

Bane continues to carry the Magic offensively, going toe to toe with Kawhi Leonard late in the 111-109 victory.

He has also been a catalyst toward winning too. As the Magic hope they finally have the momentum to start winning consistently and grab the 6-seed from the Philadelphia 76ers.

00:00 Desmond Bane...

The Orlando Magic have had the same problem for more than a decade. They have been unable to put together a functioning offense.

Those shortcomings were on display in a double overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns where the team struggled to put the Suns away despite Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane playing well. No one else could step up to support them in critical moments, leaving them to carry the team through a difficult game.

Orlando is simply thin on players who can attack off the dribble and create for themselves. Leaving the responsibility...

The Orlando Magic torched the Sacramento Kings behind a superstar performance from Paolo Banchero and a record-breaking 27 3-pointers from the Magic, a new franchise high.

In their first game after the break, the Magic showed the blueprint they will need to be successful for the rest of the season.

Banchero had complete control over the game with 30 points and six assists, along with five 3-pointers. The Kings could not find a way to slow him down, and he masterfully took what they gave him to lead the Magic to the runaway victory.

00:00 Magic's...

The Orlando Magic suffered a major setback coming out of the All-Star Break, announcing Franz Wagner will be out indefinitely and re-evaluated in three weeks. The Magic have struggled since Wagner's injury in early December as he has missed 25 of the past 29 games and the team has struggled to hover around .500.

Despite Wagner's absence, the Magic should hold themselves to a high standard and should expect to still climb up the standings. They have the talent despite their struggles.

With Wagner likely to miss the majority of the remaining games, all the attention is on...

The Orlando Magic face a defining 29-game sprint to end the season. They are going to find out just how good their core is and whether this is a group they should continue investing in.

The Magic may not have a choice with how much money they have committed in them. The end of the season is a test for this group to ensure they are the core that can lift the Magic closer to a championship or whether the team needs to make far bigger changes.

Orlando has the chance to make a big...

The Orlando Magic will likely not achieve their preseason ambitions. They will reckon with that in the offseason. All that is left is one clear-cut goal for the team after the All-Star Break: To avoid the Play-In Tournament.

The Magic will try to make up the 1.5 games between them and Philadelphia. But they have a schedule that is set up for them to make a push. Especially now that the team is healthy.

Can Orlando continue its trend of making a post-All-Star Break surge? Or will frustration continue to take over the team to end...

The Orlando Magic push to find their place among the NBA's elite as All-Star Weekend kept its spotlight off the Orlando Magic. Paolo Banchero is still seeking his place among the NBA's elite and his absence prevented him from making his mark on the league at large. Both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are on the outside looking in for the league's elite players.

The Magic and their players need to earn their spot in the spotlight. The league wants them to be good with Wagner at the center of Germany's basketball revival. Banchero is the star...