Magic Players See Five-City Odyssey as Chance to Prove Themselves

The Orlando Magic start a five-game road trip Wednesday night vs. the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. At the onset of a challenging stretch, the Magic want to get off on the right foot.

Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner (21) reacts after a basket against the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter at Kia Center. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

CHICAGO – The first priority for the Orlando Magic is always to protect their home floor. Over last season and into this one, they've done just that.

The Magic were one of the NBA's best home teams last year, winning 29 of 41 regular-season games and all three playoff games at the Kia Center. Playing away from home was a different story,

Orlando's 18-23 road record was the worst of any Eastern Conference playoff qualifier a year ago. In their seven-game series with the Cavaliers, the Magic lost all four games in Cleveland.

In 2024-25, the Magic are out to position themselves better for April and May by playing better away from home from October through March. After splitting two road games in the season's first week, 3-1 Orlando begins a five-city swing at Chicago on Wednesday night.

"I think we've got to come in with a positive mindset," forward Paolo Banchero said Monday night. "We've got some good teams that we're about to go play. We have a chance to prove ourselves a little bit, five games straight on the road."

"The energy shifts are so different on the road than at home," center Moritz Wagner said Wednesday. "I think even though we had a pretty good start so far, I think there's plenty of errors we've got to clean up [in] our game, and it's another opportunity to do so."

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley emphasized the need to start the road trip off "the right way" at the Wednesday shootaround at the United Center. Orlando players first must understand how the Bulls figure to play them. Mosley called the United Center a tough environment to play in, and with Cleveland, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Indiana to follow, the road ahead doesn't get easier.

Competition around the NBA is ever-increasing, Mosley said. Although the season is only a week old, trends have started to circulate through the league. Teams want to avoid facing the Magic's half-court defense. For other teams, they may view how Memphis and Indiana ran in transition with varying levels of success against Orlando in consecutive outings as a formula to their own matchups with the Magic.

It's on the Magic to adapt to those up-tempo moments.

"There definitely is [more] parity around the league," Mosley said. "Even a team like Chicago taking 47 threes a game, playing faster, that's what's really noticeable throughout the league. Guys getting more threes up, playing at a higher, [more] intense pace, looking to push the basketball before defenses are set. That's something that we've got to continue to be aware of."

Because of past experiences they've gone through together, Magic players understand what it is they're aiming for – to put a bigger imprint on the league with their success and see the attention follow.

In taking on the Bulls on their home floor, Orlando looks to hit the ground running as they start hitting the tarmac more often.

Related Stories on the Orlando Magic

• MEET THE BULLS: The Magic's five-game, eight-day road trip opens with the Chicago Bulls Wednesday night. A closer look at Orlando's first opponent of the year: CLICK HERE
• MAGIC-BULLS TV INFO: The Orlando Magic are on the road for the season's first road trip, starting a five-city swing in Chicago Wednesday night when they take on the Bulls inside the United Center. Here's the TV info for the game, plus plenty of other information regarding the contest. CLICK HERE
• MAGIC-BULLS INJURY REPORT: The latest on player health and status for the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls ahead of Wednesday night's game. CLICK HERE
• PAOLO ON NBA TODAY: Banchero joined ESPN's daily NBA talk show to discuss his 50-point performance vs. the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE
• BANCHERO TAKEOVERS ARE BUSINESS AS USUAL: Maybe the nights won't always be this caliber. But for a player on a superstar track – a word used too loosely in the NBA but warranted here – these Paolo Banchero takeovers are the ones to get used to. CLICK HERE
• MAGIC-PACERS RECAP: Behind 50 points from All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, the Orlando Magic outlasted the Indiana Pacers 119-115 on Monday night. CLICK HERE
• MAGIC'S 2024-25 SCHEDULE: See the complete slate for the Orlando Magic in 2024-25 and all the details – dates, locations, TV, tip times and more – that you need to know. CLICK HERE

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