Wagner reveals the Magic's focused game plan, defensive intensity, and clutch execution that powered their crucial do-or-die victory.
On what the do-or-die win says about the squad:
"Yeah, it was a big way to know how we responded. I liked our energy from the jump. We really focused on the game plan. I think we executed really well out there and we're going to need more of that in the playoffs."
On the mindset from the jump and seizing the moment in the first quarter:
"I thought it was one of our best games in terms of staying focused on what our strategy was all game. I thought we had a really good game plan. They're a really good offensive team — one of the best since the All-Star break in the NBA. I think we bothered them all night, got them out of their sets and had them taking shots for the most part that we wanted them to take. It speaks to our character and how much we want to be in the playoffs even considering how the season has gone. Now every game has to be with that intensity and that type of focus."
On playing with desperation and the confidence this performance gives the group heading to Detroit:
"Yeah, I think it's a good point. For sure confidence. But also knowing that we got to step it up if we want to win this next series. I really liked our mindset in terms of playing one possession at a time regardless of the score and I think that's usually the team that wins the game."
On dominating the points in the paint and the ball movement:
"I actually think our mindset was to take away their catch-and-shoot threes and I think that's how they beat a lot of teams. We were really physical on their perimeter guys and got out to shooters really quickly. We had a lot of really good possessions defensively where we closed out on shooters and they didn't really have a lot of ways to go. On the other end, we obviously fed off our defense, got a lot of easy ones, and I think that's why you have the disparity in the paint. Also rebounding was a big key to the game. As for my mindset, it was a do-or-die game so just doing whatever it takes. Coming into the game we knew pretty much what they were going to do. So being ready for the paint to be really clogged up and just making plays from there."
On the crowd and what it did for the team:
"Yeah, it was super fun out there, man. They gave us a big boost. Obviously I think you can sometimes feel the other team's frustration when the crowd gets going and we definitely feed off of that."
On not letting up after building a big lead:
"That's what I kind of alluded to earlier. I really liked our level of focus and desperation of playing every possession as good as we can regardless of the outcome of it and just sticking to that. I think that's what elite teams do. So we got to keep having that mindset."
On whether tonight felt reminiscent of strong playoff performances at home:
"I think so. I think we're very confident playing at home in these scenarios. Like I said, we feed off our crowd. Obviously we know that we got to win on the road. So I think that's got to be the mindset going into this series — to steal one hopefully of these first two."
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