Magic In A Bottle 💫

11/27/2023 Magic In A Bottle 💫

By: Jeff Yoder

Orlando Magic Notch 7 Straight Wins & Quickly Turn Heads to Start 2023-24 NBA Season

Don’t look now, but one underdog NBA team just snuck their way through November and into prime position as a dark-horse candidate for the 2023-24 season. The Orlando Magic — ripe with the fifth-youngest core roster in the league — just reeled off wins No. 6 and 7 in a row over the break. The Magic beat the Celtics (113-96) and the Hornets (130-117) to extend the win streak to seven and officially climb into second in the Eastern Conference at 12-5. They’re just one game back of Boston for the best record in the East, and the entire league. Plus, they’re leading Boston in the NBA in-season tournament group play. That would’ve been hard to believe before the season began. In the NBA’s first month, Orlando has beaten the Lakers, Nuggets, Bucks, and Celtics — four of the best teams in the NBA. And they’ve done it with defense (5th-ranked defense). Not a single Magic player is averaging more than 20 points per game. Paolo Banchero (19.6 ppg) and Franz Wagner (18.9 ppg) are leading the charge.

 

The Magic have made the playoffs just twice in the past decade, and they were bounced in the first round both times. Could this be a new era in Orlando? Or is it simply an early-season flash of ‘Magic in a bottle’?

 

Watch: Magic Take Down Celtics & Hornets to Reach 7-Game Win Streak

 

NBA Quick-Shots

Ant’s Star is Rising: Anthony Edwards was the center of attention last summer for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup, and he’s carried it over to the regular season. The Timberwolves currently lead the West with a record of 12-4, and Edwards is averaging 26-6-5. Minnesota could be seeing a similar Magic-like turnaround.

 

Spurs Struggling: After a 3-2 start to Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season, the Spurs are experiencing growing pains with their young roster. A loss to the Nuggets and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic (39-11-9) on Sunday marked San Antonio’s 12 straight defeat, sinking them to the bottom of the NBA standings (3-14).

 

Suns Catching Fire: Phoenix has yet to put their big 3 on the court together, but Devin Booker has the Suns riding a seven-game win streak as they climb back to the top-4 in the West. The trio of Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal have yet to share the court at the same time this season. Booker had 40 and 28 over the weekend, including a clutch 3 to beat the Knicks at MSG (116-113).

 

Photo: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images