To place it evenly, Sunday’s contest between the Magic and the Jazz wasn’t precisely consultant of what the 2 franchises had in thoughts when their respective seasons started.
Each groups have been with out 4 of their prime 5 scorers once they took the court docket inside Kia Heart.
Orlando (21-16) didn’t have Paolo Banchero (return to competitors reconditioning), Franz Wagner (torn proper belly muscle), Jalen Suggs (low-back pressure) and Moe Wagner (torn left knee ACL).
And on the second evening of a back-to-back, Utah (9-25) was lacking Lauri Markkanen (low-back spasms), John Collins (private causes), Jordan Clarkson (left foot plantar fasciitis) and Keyonte George (left heel soreness).
A sport needed to be performed nonetheless in entrance of 19,198 followers throughout Utah’s lone journey to Orlando.
After seven lead modifications and either side main by as many as 8 factors, the Jazz took management late to win 105-92 by outscoring the Magic 62-49 within the second half.
Utah’s Brice Sensabaugh, a Lake Highland Prep product, led all scorers with 27 factors off the bench within the 13-point highway victory.
The Magic have a fast turnaround once they play at New York Monday evening. The Knicks gained the primary three conferences of the 4-game season collection.
Beginning 5
With out Suggs, reserve guard Cole Anthony made his first begin of the season and first since 2022-23 for Orlando.
He joined Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Tristan da Silva, Caleb Houstan and Goga Bitadze on the ground to open vs. Utah.
Anthony, 12 factors, was the lone Orlando starter to complete in double figures.
Bitadze shortly racked up 7 factors, 4 rebounds and three assists within the opening body, however he solely notched 2 factors the remainder of the way in which, together with 11 rebounds.
Houstan missed his first 4 3-pointers and solely took long-range photographs all through the evening. He went 3 of 10 from distance, the place the Magic as an entire went 14 of 47 (29.8%).
The Magic solely had 36 factors within the paint (in comparison with Utah’s 52).
Second unit
Anthony Black was obtainable for the Magic after he missed the final three video games because of a low again contusion, however the second-year guard didn’t log any minutes.
As an alternative, Mosley turned to Cory Joseph, Jett Howard, Trevelin Queen, Jonathan Isaac and Wendell Carter Jr. as his first 5 off the bench.
Howard offered an instantaneous enhance when he sunk his first pair of triples and notched a team-high 8 factors within the first quarter. He ended the evening with a career-high 21 factors when he added 10 within the fourth body.
Carter scored nearly all of his factors across the rim, exterior of his one made 3-pointer. He totaled 15 factors in 19 minutes and was energetic across the rim typically with 6 boards.
Rookie watch
Contemporary off career-high a 25 factors at Toronto, da Silva missed all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt and shot 3 of 11 from the sphere to notch simply 6 factors.
Whereas his scoring lacked, the No. 18 choose nonetheless continued to make performs for Orlando with 9 rebounds and a pair of assists in 31 minutes.
Suggs replace
Earlier than the sport, Mosley shared that Suggs will proceed to be evaluated within the coming days after he suffered a decrease again damage Saturday at Toronto.
“Backs may be tough,” Mosley stated. “So, it’s like on and off a bit bit. He’s simply going to proceed to be evaluated over the following few days.”
Jason Beede may be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up subsequent …
Magic at Knicks
When: 7:30, Monday, Madison Sq. Backyard
TV: FanDuel Sports activities Community Florida
Initially Revealed:
