'The Orlando Magic Are Doing Something': Moe Wagner on Late Season Push

After defeating the Washington Wizards 122-112 on Tuesday, the Orlando Magic kept its Play-In hopes alive late in the NBA season.

ORLANDO - Posting a 30-43 record with nine games left in the regular season, the Orlando Magic currently sit five games back the East's final Play-In spot. 

And while it's a lofty feat for this young club to reach the postseason (less than 0.1 percent according to FiveThirtyEight), the team still feels like they have something to play for - something that wasn't a reality a season ago.

"The long term road seems so far sometimes that it's difficult to get up in the morning if you work for something that seems down the road," center Moe Wagner said. "These short term goals help us motivate and stay locked in on a day-to-day basis." 

In its 73rd game a year ago, the Magic defeated the Golden State Warriors to pick up its 20th win of the season. To put it in perspective, it took this year's team 23 less games to reach that mark. 

"And really put the league on notice that the Orlando Magic are doing something and going in a direction means a lot to these guys," Wagner said. 

After posting the league's fourth-worst +/- in 2022 (-8) Orlando has cut difference that by over five points (-2.7) this season to put themselves in a position to win on a nightly basis.  

"The thing that's great about this year is in 95 percent of our games have been winnable," guard Cole Anthony said. "It's been very competitive games...The awesome thing about this year is we have a few more wins, but every game I've felt has been a good game it's been competitive and we've had a chance to win.  

Orlando is back in action on Thursday against the New York Knicks. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. 

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