Magic big for first win over Hornets in Steve Clifford’s return to Orlando – Reading Eagle

Z Orlando Magic knocked down several guardscoach Jamal Mosley decided to start the team’s big win, a 113-93 home victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Ball Ball (7-foot-2) entered Friday’s starting lineup along with Terrence Ross (6-foot-6), Pablo Bunchero (6-foot-10), Wendell Carter Jr. (6-foot-10) and Franz Wagner (6-foot-10) to give the Magic a starting lineup of five players at least 6-foot-6, including four who are listed as at least 6-foot-10.

with Cole Anthony (injury of the right internal oblique muscle), Markelle Fultz (fracture of the big toe of the left foot), Gary Harris (recovery from left knee injury) and Jalen Suggs (sprained right ankle) on the sideline, Bunchero, Carter and Wagner carried the heavier burden of the game.

They jumped at the chance.

Banchero finished with a season-high 7 assists for 21 points (8-of-14 shooting) and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes. He became the sixth player in NBA history to start his career with six consecutive 20-point games, joining Wilt Chamberlain (56), Alvin Hayes (10) and Grant Hill, Dominique Wilkins and Oscar Robertson (6).

Carter had 15 points (6-of-13), 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, while Wagner had 13 points (5-of-8) and 4 assists in 23 minutes.

Mo Bamba added 19 points (8 of 12), 6 rebounds and 3 blocks in 17 minutes off the bench. Ball had 11 points and 7 rebounds in his first start of the season and third of his career since being a second-round pick in 2019.

Jonathan Isaac (recovery from left knee injury) and Mo Wagner (right midfoot sprain) were also ruled out, while the Hornets were without LaMelo Ball (left ankle sprain), Cody Martin (left quad soreness) and Terry Rozier (right sprain ankles).

“It’s great for those guys,” Mosley said of Buncher and Wagner getting more playmaking duties. “Teams realize we have some guards, so they’re going full court, so it gives those guys a lot of experience to understand how they can handle pressure.”

Friday was Steve Clifford’s first practice in Orlando since he and the Magic “agreed” to part ways in the summer of 2021.

Clifford rejoins Hornets (2-3) as head coach in June, serving there from 2013-18 before leading the Magic from 2018-21.

He was also an assistant coach in Orlando on Stan Van Gundy’s staff from 2007-2012.

Clifford said Mosley has done a “great” job as the Magic’s coach, adding that they have a good friendship.

“No. 1 is the energy level you have to have to start from scratch, especially with all the young guys,” Clifford said when asked about Mosley before the game. “It’s a lot of other things – people talk to me about rebuilding – the two jobs I’ve had, we’ve been good.

“When I first went to Charlotte, we were about 21 years old [43] wins in the first year. When I came [to Orlando], it was similar. There were veteran players. When you have all young guys and you’re not all winning, it’s tough when you’re a coach and you play 82 games. His positivity, his energy level and last year — I didn’t see them play a ton — they just got better and better and that’s hard to do. They have more talent and the way they play, which is a real tribute to how he handled the situation.”

This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Write Khobi Price at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.

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