Host Magic falter in 2nd half against 76ers
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has often talked highly of his team’s depth throughout the first quarter of the regular season and it was put to the test Wednesday night at Kia Center against the 76ers.
Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Orlando was without three key players off its bench — Gary Harris (right calf strain), Jonathan Isaac (sore right hamstring) and Joe Ingles (left ankle sprain) — vs. Philadelphia (21-9), which outscored Orlando (18-12) by 14 points in the second half en route to a 112-92 victory.
Forward Franz Wagner scored 24 points and Jalen Suggs added 20 to pace Orlando.
Guard Tyrese Maxey had 23 points to fuel Philadelphia, which played without big man Joel Embiid but got boosts from forward Tobias Harris (22 points) and guard De’Anthony Melton (22 points).
Mosley had called it a great opportunity for other members of the Magic further down the bench to step up against the 76ers.
Both rookie Jett Howard, who was recalled from the G League Wednesday morning after a short stint in Osceola, and two-way guard Trevelin Queen were available to play.
“That’s the beauty of our group that each guy knows what they’re capable of doing and what they’re asked to do whenever they’re asked to step in with guys being out,” Mosley said pre-game.
Queen was named to the G League’s All-Showcase Team last week after he averaged 25.5 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3.5 steals in 34 minutes.
Wekiva High alum Paul Reed made his third start of the season at forward for the Sixers while former Magic center Mo Bamba came off the bench.
For Orlando, Markelle Fultz (left knee tendinitis) missed his 22nd consecutive contest, which allowed Anthony Black to make the 24th start of his rookie campaign.
Throughout his first season in the NBA, Black’s confidence on the floor, especially on offense, has grown.
He’s continued to make an impact by finding the correct spots to shoot and doesn’t gamble on defense by timing his steals. As a 6-7 guard, Black uses his length and size to his advantage on both ends.
“The coaches have done a great job with him and he’s done a heck of a job continuing to work — not just on his shot — but overall reading and studying the game,” Mosley said after Tuesday’s win at Washington. “Coach [Jeremiah] Boswell does a great job with him, getting him in the gym, coming in early and staying late.
“That’s who he is.”
After scoring a career-high 23 points against the Wizards, Black gave credit to his teammates and the attention they bring to the offense.
“I get a lot of easy ones from them,” he said. “I got a couple of ones in transition and then got some pretty open 3s, to be honest. I’m pretty sure most of my points were assisted, so [it] definitely goes out to the guys for finding me.”
Black and the Magic host the Knicks on Friday (Bally Sports Florida, 7) before the team embarks for a four-game West Coast trip.
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X, also known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.
