If Paolo Banchero told you the Orlando Magic would be sitting at No. 2 in the Eastern Conference standings through the first month of the 2023-24 NBA season, would you believe him? Not a lot of NBA fans, not even from Orlando, would. But so far, here they are with a 12-5 record after they took down the Charlotte Hornets 130-117 for the Magic's seventh straight victory on Sunday.
Following the win, Banchero posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) that will surely hype up Magic fans.
let’s keep goin!!! #MagicTogether
— Paolo Banchero (@Pp_doesit) November 27, 2023
For comparison, it wasn't until December 21 last year (33 games in) that Orlando won its 12th game of the 2022-23 NBA season. It only took them 16 games less to get to a dozen this year.
Franz Wagner and Cole Anthony scored 30 points apiece on Sunday night. Wagner finished the game with seven rebounds and two assists while shooting 11-of-15 from the field. Meanwhile, Anthony tallied seven boards and seven dimes, and went 9-of-16 from the field and 11-of-12 from the foul line in 32 minutes off the bench.
As for Banchero, he nearly notched the first triple triple-double of his career with 23 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists.
While their latest victory came against a lowly Hornets team, the Magic did just come off impressive wins over the East's top-seed Boston Celtics and the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
The Magic entered this season with expectations that they would make a jump, especially after they went 29-28 from December onwards last season.
But nobody saw Orlando take this massive leap as one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. It will be worth seeing if this young and exciting Magic team can keep this up.
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