The Orlando Magic probably should have never had to rely on Paolo Banchero to hit a game-winning shot in overtime after leading the Brooklyn Nets by 14 points later, but the flaws are not what coach Jamahl Mosley is focused on.
The Orlando Magic’s win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday was largely defined by Paolo Banchero’s heroic buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift his team to victory in the final seconds.
Yet, one could argue that the Magic should have never been in that position.
Orlando squandered a 14-point fourth quarter lead and was about to drop its second game in as many nights if not for Banchero. The defense stalled, and the offense faltered in the final period, allowing the Nets to outscore Banchero and Co, 29-14.
However, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley was not focused on what his team did wrong. Rather, he praised their efforts when it mattered most.
“Those guys had the poise down the stretch to understand they had a foul to give,” Mosley said. “They blew up the first play; Paolo read it right, took the out route and was able to hit a heck of a shot.”
“And I think that's big time for him, big time for this group to bounce off of a back-to-back where we didn't play our best basketball last night. But then to come in tonight and scrap the way we needed to.”
The Magic had their back against the wall and were able to emerge victoriously. For Mosley, it speaks to what the group is made of.
“It just keeps creating the resiliency that we know this group has. And it's building for the future, for what we're gonna go through. And I think anytime you can learn the lessons in a win, I think it's great.”
“And these guys are continuing to learn these lessons about what we need to do down the stretch to start games, to come together. I think it's big for us as we continue to move forward.”
In facing a team like the Nets, Mosley and his players understood the challenge at hand despite Brooklyn’s poor record.
“Yeah, we knew how they were gonna play. They're scrappy. They play hard. They started to speed the game up. They hit some great shots. We missed a bunch of easy shots. But again, our ability to sustain our effort the entire game was important, just to give yourself a chance. And that's what we were able to do.”
The Magic have made the most of tightly contested games as they improve to 7-2 in games decided by 3 points-or-less. The 7 wins are tied for the most in the NBA this season.
The most wins by three points-or-less in team history is 12, set in 1995-96, giving Orlando a chance to snap that record with plenty of season remaining.
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