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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 3h

The #Magic showed a lot of grit and toughness at the end of their game against the #Heat.

They found a way. And that is a good start to the season:

Orlando Magic find a way with GRIT to win season opener | The Jalen Suggs DIFFERENCE

YouTube video by Locked On Magic

www.youtube.com

Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 5h

Wasn't as pretty as I'm sure everyone would have wanted. There is still a lot to clean up.

But in gut check time, the #Magic got the win. A lot to be proud of.

Magic defeat the #Heat 125-121.

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 5h

#Magic are winning all the 50/50 balls. After a Norman Powell bucket, #Magic need a basket to maintain the lead. Paolo isolates and misses a fadeaway but Wendell Carter digs out the rebound to get the foul.

Carter makes both.

125-121 ORL, 0:06.1 4th

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 5h

Jalen Suggs got stuck in the paint and made an insanely tough turnaround to put the #Magic back in the lead.

After giving up back-to-back threes, Desmond Bane dives to the floor to secure a rebound.

Huge plays. It's the inches.

Bane makes both FTs.

123-119 ORL, 0:37.3 4th

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 5h

#Magic hitting a rut again. Making mistakes and forcing shots. #Heat are still trying to run.

Jalen Suggs took a charge on Norman Powell (his second of the game), but the #Heat want the refs to take a second look.

115-115, 3:01 4th

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 5h

The #Magic force a five-second violation out of the timeout.

After all, it's not a Magic game without an inbounds turnover.

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 5h

#Magic go back into the lead after Davion Mitchell misses a three, Franz drives, kicks it to Suggs who swings it to Bane. Bane missed the three but Carter cleans up with a putback and a foul.

115-113 ORL, 3:49 4th

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 5h

Won't be live. Will be finding a place to pod after I'm done with postgame media.

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 5h

Back-to-back big defensive plays. There are hints of the #Magic's defense. Suggs rips the ball from Norman Powell for a breakaway layup. Some good rotations and ends with Franz getting a block (currently under review). Lots of game left. 111-110 MIA, 4:30 4th

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 5h

Both teams are set to bring back the bulk of their starters in the next timeout. #Magic are struggling to make up ground. The defense just has not been there consistently enough.

107-101 MIA, 8:02 4th

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 6h

Star Wars and "Stand and Cheer" are back with the new PA announcer. Early gut check for this team. Would be big to show the will to finish this one.

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 6h

The third quarter was played more like a #Magic vs. #Heat game. Heat won the quarter 26-21. #Magic got a bit bogged down offensively and couldn't consistently get their shots. #Heat still running more effectively.

12 minutes to go! Heat lead 91-90.

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 6h

Paolo has really struggled reading where teammates are and where the doubles are coming from. That should get better with more reps and experience. But it has been rough this game. 83-79 MIA, 4:24 3rd

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 6h

It is pretty clear there is still a lot to tighten up and clean up, particularly on defense. The #Magic must win the bench minutes. The #Heat do not have a lot of scoring depth right now. Bench was the spark to coming back in the first quarter. Big minutes here. 79-79, 5:18 3rd

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 6h

Officials called just about everything in the first half. They are letting the #Magic hit and bump a lot more in the second half. Jalen Suggs with a really great defensive possession that got the crowd up, probably would have been a foul earlier. 72-67 ORL, 9:33 2nd

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 6h

That was a half of basketball. The #Magic lead the #Heat 69-65 at the half.

Franz Wagner with 19 points. Desmond Bane with 14. Paolo has just seven on 3-for-8 shooting.

#Magic's offense looks refreshed. But they are still adapting their defense to the pace.

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 6h

The #Magic look a little gassed. Both teams trying to run and the team's transition defense and execution is looking a little leaky. Still a lot to build and grow early in the season.

65-65, 1:33 2nd

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 6h

We have returned to the foul parade.

60-58 ORL, 2:37 2nd

a black and white photo of a band playing guitars

ALT: a black and white photo of a band playing guitars

media.tenor.com

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 7h

It took a quarter, but the #Magic are starting to come alive on defense. Great sequence where Black got a block on Powell and then a deflection before Bam missed a corner three. Turned into a Goga putback.

57-50 ORL, 6:45 2nd

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 7h

It's one game. Probably some bad habits to work out. I almost prefer Bam on Paolo exactly so he doesn't feel like he needs to sit and wait in the post.

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 7h

I have been very confused. I wouldn't believe it was happening if I weren't in the building watching it.

Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 7h

The difference between the Franz (12 pts, 4/5 FG) lineups and Paolo (4 pts, 2/5 FG) lineups right now is Franz is much better about moving into space. He is always looking to catch it on the move. He rarely post-ups and just sits there waiting for it.

50-50, 8:10 2nd

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 7h

Yep. Thought they were trying too hard to force that post-up with Paolo. It wasn't there. Needed to keep the motion going.

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 7h

Franz Wagner closes the first quarter with a three as the #Magic race back after a made layup from the #Heat. Both teams shot well -- the Magic were 13 for 26 and 6 for 10 from three. Got to clean up the fouling and keep the ball moving.

Magic trail the Heat 39-38 after one.

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Philip Rossman-Reich @philiprr.bsky.social · 7h

Starting to see hints of the old #Magic defense. Really upping the intensity, particularly after Franz Wagner forced a steal and found Anthony Black for an emphatic alley-oop. Second unit closing the quarter strong. 36-35 MIA, 0:28.2 1st

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