The Osceola Magic celebrated mascot’s Swish’ birthday Thursday against the Rio Grand Valley Vipers. They also tried to celebrate the arrival of NBA two-way player Caleb Houstan to Osceola, but poor shooting and turnovers upended the celebration as the Magic (4-9) lost their third game in a row, 116-110.
The Magic will look for revenge in Saturday night's rematch with the Vipers at Silver Spurs Arena in a holiday-themed event night. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Swish Snow Globe.
“I thought we controlled a lot of the game, but 25 turnovers were really the difference,” Osceola Coach Dylan Murphy noted. “it's just their ball pressure, they put a ton of heat on the basketball. they do a really good job at that, and so we just gotta be stronger on the ball.
Houstan scored 23 points in his return to the G League.
“Look, Caleb is a super smart player, plays the right way, took good shots, but obviously didn't shoot his best today,” Murphy analyzed. “We're living with those shots. He's got the green light. We are happy for him to be here with us.”
Houstan said he felt the transition from the NBA to G League squad was seamless.
"Both teams run the exact same thing,” he said of the Magic organization.
Added point guard Mac McClung on Houstan: “I mean [Houstan] is just such an unbelievable shooter. It's it makes it easy for a guy like me trying to run the team.”
McClung may be the defending NBA slam dunk champion, but he showed his improved focus on passing prowess with 9 assists to go along with this game-high 27 points. However, he struggled with 8 of the Magic’s 25 turnovers.
“The turnovers is something that bothered me,” McClung said. “I don't even care how many points I end up with. Somehow, I end up with 27 today. My main goal this year is to improve on my passing.”
The players noted that the season is only 13 games old and there is no panic in the locker room.
“I've won a championship in this league and the team I started out with we were terrible at first,” McClung said. “I think we’re going to continue to grow for each other. If we had a bunch of selfish guys, I'd be worried, but we don't. We have a lot of great human beings, and we all put the work in. So, I mean, I think the best is yet to go for us.”
McClung feels the team need to improve on the defensive end – especially at the end of games.
“The biggest thing is in the third fourth quarters being able to get stops,” McClung remarked. “Almost that alpha dog thinking. Hey, you're not scoring on us as a unit.”
After being tied at 55-all in the first half, the Magic started the third quarter on a 17-8 run on five 3-pointers. Ethan Thompson brought energy in the second half to spark the Magic offense- ending with 15 points. But turnovers continued allowing the Vipers (7-6) to come back and take an 87-85 lead heading into the final period. A fourth quarter 18-7 Viper run was fueled by more turnovers. The Magic went on as 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 4 points with 6 minutes left but fell short in the end.
The game started at a fast back-and-forth pace with the Magic committing several turnovers that led to Viper baskets. The Magic offense was a three-point barrage which included many missed shots (10-for-36 for the game). At one point Houstan missed three 3-pointers in one offensive possession. Despite the turnovers in the first quarter, the Magic still led 25-19.
Jarrett Culver added 12 points for the Magic. Teddy Allen had 27 points for Rio Grande Valley.
