The Orlando Magic did not receive a lot of National TV games next season, but there are still some notable dates.
While large markets in the NBA will enjoy plenty of national TV time, the Orlando Magic received a more modest schedule with only eight of their games being televised across the country during the upcoming regular season.
So, let’s identify who some of their opponents will be on the national stage:
The first half
If we are counting the preseason, Orlando will enjoy four nationally televised games in the first half of the 2026-27 slate.
On Oct. 11, the Magic will host the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it will be televised on ESPN. Two days later, Orlando will have a rematch with the Cavs, this time at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, and the second contest will be televised on Peacock.
These games will be interesting because both Orlando and Cleveland will be showcasing young talent. On the side of the Magic, Noah Penda and Jase Richardson should get plenty of time on the floor, and newly acquired 23-year-old guard Malaki Branham may also get significant minutes.
They will have to deal with young Cavs players such as Tyrese Proctor, Nae’Qwan Tomlin and rookie Meleek Thomas.
Fans who are banking on seeing the Magic on major networks will have to enjoy these two games, because they will not appear on national TV again until they face the Boston Celtics on Nov. 16 on Peacock. The Celtics will have a new-look team after trading Jaylen Brown for Paul George from the Philadelphia 76ers and adding center Mitchell Robinson in free agency.
On Dec. 14, the Magic will host Philadelphia, which features a star-studded roster after trading for Brown and signing LeBron James. This game will air on Peacock, and it will be the second game of an away-and-home slate between Dec. 12 and 14. It will also mark the third and final time the two teams meet, barring a playoff matchup.
This will be an interesting season for Orlando that will be full of challenges. In a recent episode of the Full Court Magic Podcast, I detailed other games from the first half of the season that fans should get excited for:
"You know, we've done so much talking about the schedule and, you know, what it can offer. And I released a story the other day about what I believe to be the three most important games from the first half of the season for the Magic. I will be doing another story shortly about the three most important games from the second half.
And, you know, it's interesting, at least in my view, how many of those games fell in close succession to one another, and all of them are within the first month of the season, right? So I chose October 25th at the New York Knicks. Why? Because they are the defending champs, and they are the ones who knocked off the Magic in the NBA Cup semifinals, right? And so it would be good for the Magic if they could go in there and spoil the fun for the Knicks.
It's not ring night, but, you know, could still quiet down that Madison Square Garden crowd a little bit. And also, Sweeney could get a little bit of revenge because, obviously, he was an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, and they just lost to the Knicks in five games in the NBA Finals.
And, you know, there's Philadelphia coming to Orlando, and, you know, the Magic get to host LeBron. And then, you know, obviously the big game against the Detroit Pistons, the final game, you know, of the Cup, at least in the group stage of the Emirates NBA Cup for Group A. That's where the Magic are in, and they will conclude there. And the Magic went 4-0 in Cup play last season. So we'll see if they can string together another successful run."
