Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner. Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Mixture of young stars and veteran leadership propelling Magic

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Dec 2, 2024 11:54 AM ET

After a season in which they reached the playoffs and took the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games, the Orlando Magic are picking up right where they left off.

With a record of 15-7 through 22 games, Orlando holds the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and trail the first place Cavs by just 3.5 games.

After star Paolo Banchero went down with an injury just five games into the season, Orlando has responded in a big way, and that is showing in its record.

The Magic have won six games in a row and 12 of their last 13.

360'ing into a 6th straight W @OrlandoMagic have won 12 of their last 13! https://t.co/8tmeHTrUhX pic.twitter.com/0C87yQStuD
— NBA (@NBA) December 1, 2024

Orlando has gotten major contributions from young players such as Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs.

Wagner leads Orlando in points per game (23.4) assists per game (5.9) and steals per game (1.8). He has stepped up in the absence of Banchero and has taken control as the leader of this Orlando squad.

Franz Wagner, despite enduring one of the worst shooting games of his career…

20 points
9 rebounds
8 assists

It’s his 17th 20-point game of the season, tied for the third-most in the NBA.#MakeItMagic pic.twitter.com/yMPvZaE4Kd
— ORLmuse (@ORLmuse) December 1, 2024

Wagner, along with Suggs and veteran shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, control an Orlando defense that allows the fewest points per game in the NBA (102.3).

Orlando forces the third most turnovers per game in the league (16.1) as well as being the fourth best in the NBA in steals per game (9.5).

The @OrlandoMagic had 11 blocked shots and 10 steals during today’s win at Brooklyn. On Nov. 29, Orlando had 13 blocks and 13 steals.

It is only the second time in team history that Orlando has had 10+ steals and 10+ blocks in consecutive games (Nov. 6-8, 2019).#MakeItMagic
— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) December 1, 2024

With continued defensive pressure and offensive contributions from each and every member of the rotation, Orlando will continue to thrive in Banchero's absence and be a force to be reckoned with when he returns to the lineup sometime before the calendar turns to 2025.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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