The Osceola Magic (18-10) came back from being down 18 early Sunday to blowout the Stockton Kings, 135-115. With the win the Magic finish their week-long home stand 4-1 and are in a second-place tie in the NBA G League Eastern Conference with the Capital City Go Go and just a half-game behind the first place Maine Celtics.
The Magic cut the deficit to one point at the half and then outscored Stockton 45-26 in the third quarter.
The Magic were led by Ethan Thompson (30 points), Jalen Slawson (28 points), Mac McClung (19 points), and Myron Gardner (18 points).
Magic coach Dylan Murphy noted Thompson is one of the best shooters, if not the best shooter in the G League.
“Any time Ethan Thompson has an open three we want him to let that thing rip,” Murphy said. “He has the ultimate green light. He has an understanding to not abuse that. Sometimes we have to encourage him to be even more aggressive.”
The Magic went on an 15-2 run to take a 90-76 late in the third quarter after several lead changes and ties. The Magic led 102-82 after three periods more than countering the early Stockton (18-11) lead.
The Magic battled back to cut the deficit to 2 points midway through the 2nd quarter, 44-42. The comeback was keyed by gritty defense led by Alex Morales who had back-to-back steals and had moved to third all-time in Magic G League franchise history on Friday night.
“Alex is the heart of our team,” Murphy said. “He guards 1-5, he’ll play point guard, he will play the center, whatever it is he will do it. If we need him to score, he will score, if we need him to pass, he will pass. Everything he does both shows up in the box score and doesn’t.”
Morales was humbled when told of his coach’s comments.
“On every team it is important to have guys that fill in areas and holes,” Morales said. “I believe one of my God-given talents is to do whatever the team needs that day. Whether it is steals, rebounds, or even score sometimes. I believe my job is to bring some energy to get us going”
A Thompson 10-footer brought the Magic to within one. The Magic had their first lead on a Mac McClung layup with 3:04 left in the quarter, 48-47. The lead then changed hands four times, but despite two late Thompson three-pointers, Stockton was up 57-56 at the half.
“This team is so talented you go with the flow,” Thompson said. “My teammates did a good job of finding me and I was able to knock down some shots. ]I try to make big plays when the opportunity presents itself. That’s what you do the work for some when you get in those moments you are prepared. I think that ignited a spark that we carried into the second half.”
Stockton took a 22-11 lead midway through the first quarter. The Kings lead grew to 18 points late in the first quarter before the Magic cut it to 39-26 partially due to 5 turnovers and being outrebounded 14-8 in the period.
“When you down 18 in two seconds everything is going wrong,” Murphy said of the slow start. “We have that confidence now when we’re down to not panic and to lock on what we need to do and slowly crawl back into the game.”
On Friday night the Magic beat Stockton 137-119. McClung led the Magic in scoring with 32 points on 13-of-21 shooting from the field and 4-of-10 from behind the arc. Ethan Thompson scored 19 points, including three three-pointers. Jalen Slawson recorded his third double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
COMING UP: The Magic hit the road for a pair of games this week, at the first-place Celtics on Thursday at 7 (watch on ESPN+) and Saturday at 5 against the Cleveland Charge (watch on Tubi) before returning for a four-game home stand to close the regular season March 24-29.
