The Orlando Magic responded to a 30-point loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday in a big way with a 121-114 Emirates NBA Cup win over them on Friday.

Orlando earned the win through a collective team effort, and Desmond Bane was the leading scorer with 28 points, while Franz Wagner and Anthony Black became the first pair of Magic teammates since DJ Augustin and Evan Fournier in 2018 to notch a points/assists double-double.

After the game, coach Sean Sweeney was pleased with the way the team stuck together, especially when he directly compared it to the bad loss Orlando just suffered. In Wednesday’s defeat and others before it, Sweeney noticed that the Magic started strong before coming undone, but their resolve and aggression on Friday kept them playing winning, consistent basketball.

Even when the Raptors made a run, Orlando remained steadfast in its approach and effort, and Sweeney admired that component of his team’s game as well. Even with Toronto forward Scottie Barnes going for a career-high 41 points, the Magic limited the rest of the team, and by the nine-minute mark in the fourth quarter, Barnes had reached 40 points, and he only scored one the rest of the way.

Orlando got the win without two of its most important players in Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, and its NBA Cup record improved to 12-4 all-time in those games. 

After a disappointing performance on Wednesday in which Bane scored just 13 points while shooting 3-for-14 from the field and 2-for-8 from 3-point range, his performance on Friday was also indicative of a strong bounce-back performance.

Bane's 28 points came in efficient fashion as he hit eight of his 18 shots from the field and six of his 12 attempts from beyond the arc. In Sweeney’s view, Bane got going early, but the consistency he displayed throughout the game was worth emphasizing.

The Magic need Bane to be at his best, especially while Banchero and Suggs continue to miss time, and he delivered for them on Friday.

Orlando will be on the road early and often this season, and the three-game trip it just finished was but a preview of what is to come.

The Magic will return home to play the Boston Celtics on Sunday, which is the first game in a back-to-back in which they will face the Washington Wizards on Monday. Following those two games, they will head out west for a four-game trip.

Orlando won two out of three games on this road trip, and Sweeney wants to see his team continue to build on the momentum it has earned from wins and give the Magic faithful something to cheer for.