Team finishes NBA G League regular season next week with four-game home stand
It's official: the Osceola Magic are the hottest team int he NBA G League -- and they're peaking at the right time.
Going into the final week of the regular season, the Magic (19-10) seized first place in the Eastern Conference Thursday night with a 140-133 road win over the Maine Celtics (20-12). The win was the Magic's third in a row and ninth in their last 10, the best record in the league over that stretch. Osceola now leads Maine by a half-game with five games left to go -- and the Magic play the last four of them at home, where they are 10-3 in the regular season
Four Magic players scored over 20 points Thursday, led by Jarrett Culver’s 29 on 12-of-17 from the field. Ethan Thompson pushed the Magic out in front early with 16 of his 26 points in the first quarter. Mac McClung tallied 27 points with five rebounds and five assists.
Despite all that, the Magic needed a rally to win Thursday. Osceola, who scored 50 points in the first quarter, started the fourth quarter down 109-101 but Culver and Javonte Smart’s hot shooting lifted the team in the final frame. Culver scored 15 points on a perfect 6-of-6 from the field. After being held scoreless in the first half, Smart scored 18 of his 22 points in the fourth, shooting 7-of-9 overall and 4-of-6 from three.
Despite being in first place, the Magic haven't clinched a thing, as the top seven teams in the East are only separated by three games, and the top six advance to the playoffs (It's the same in the Western Conference). The top-two teams secure first-round byes, like the Magic did last season.
Osceola will play its final road game of the regular season on Saturday at 5 p.m. when they take on the Cleveland Charge (13-17, one game from being eliminated from the playoffs).
The Magic close the regular season next week at the Silver Spurs Arena with four games in six days. Monday and Wednesday they welcome the Motor City Cruise (17-13, 7th in the East, gunning for a playoff spot). On Friday and Saturday, the Birmingham Squadron (13-17, eliminated from the playoffs) come for a back-to-back season closer.
On Monday the Magic host Pickleball Night in partnership with 7 Brew. Magic players will be sporting co-branded Orlando Squeeze jerseys, blending the best of basketball and pickleball.
On Wednesday the Magic will celebrate Military Appreciation Night. The team will wear military-inspired jerseys and the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a replica jersey.
Saturday the 29th is Fan Appreciation Night, and the first 1,000 fans will receive a Mac McClung bobblehead, featuring the MVP and dunk contest trophies.
