ORLANDO, FLA- Following an atrocious 2021-2022 season underlined with a 22-60 overall record and 15th place finish in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic (34-48, 13th in East) entered the 2022-2023 season expected to endure another substandard year. Through the first 25 games of the season, Orlando appeared to be on track, as they were 5-20 and 15th in the East. From that point forward, however, the Magic won 19 of their next 34 games, including a record-setting six-game win streak to enter the 2023 NBA All-Star break at 24-35 and 13th in the East.
After participating in the All-Star festivities, Orlando started the second half of the season strong, winning three of their first five games, including a 101-93 win versus the New Orleans Pelicans. Although Orlando would lose five of their next six games from March 5th to March 16th, the 28-42 Magic would remain in the East’s Play-In tournament race, sitting just four games back of the No. 10 seed Washington Wizards.
With a tough dilemma of starting to tank to improve their odds for France’s Victor Wembanyama or the G-League’s Scoot Henderson in the 2023 NBA Draft or to continue a push for the Play-In tournament, the Magic decided to choose the latter. Behind the well-rounded play of their roster, Orlando won four of their next five games, including convincing wins against Los Angeles, New York, and Brooklyn to have a 32-43 record ahead of their final seven games of the season.
As it turned out, Orlando sputtered for the remainder of the NBA season, going just 3-5 overall, and was officially eliminated from Play-In tournament contention from a 113-117 loss to Cleveland on April 4th.
Regardless, the 2022-2023 season was a success for Orlando, as the club saw some of their young players enjoy monumental development.