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Wendell Carter Wendell Carter Jr. posts 12/10/1/2 line in Game 5
Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 5:49 PM
Wendell Carter Jr. recorded 12 points (5-of-10 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), 10 rebounds, one assist and two steals in 34 minutes in a Game 5 loss to the Celtics on Tuesday.
Analysis: Carter reached double digits in rebounds in four of the five games, recording two double-doubles. While he certainly wasn't elite, the Magic center had a decent finish to his fourth full season with the franchise. Appearing in 68 regular-season games, Carter's scoring output decreased, but he was more productive in rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots. Unfortunately, the starting role has not made WCJ a significant fantasy asset, as he finished the season ranked outside the top-175 in category leagues and outside the top-150 in points leagues. With three guaranteed seasons remaining on his contract, Carter will likely go into training camp locked into the starting center role. |
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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hits two triples in loss
Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 5:43 PM
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope tallied eight points (3-of-9 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and two three-pointers in 30 minutes in a Game 5 loss to the Celtics on Tuesday.
Analysis: Caldwell-Pope had a brutal series, scoring no more than eight points in any of the five games. The veteran wing shot 6-of-23 from beyond the arc, which isn't good enough for a team that lacked consistent scorers beyond Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Signed last summer with the hope that he could be a veteran voice who could also provide 3-and-D value, Caldwell-Pope underwhelmed in his first season with the Magic. He finished the regular season ranked outside the top-150 in eight- and nine-cat formats in category leagues, but KCP was close to a top-100 option in points leagues. At best, he'll be worthy of late-round consideration in 12-team leagues next fall. |
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Franz Wagner Franz Wagner scores team-high 25 points in loss
Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 5:39 PM
Franz Wagner shot 10-of-22 from the field and 5-of-5 from the foul line in a Game 5 loss to the Celtics on Tuesday, amassing 25 points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal in 40 minutes.
Analysis: Wagner finished his fourth NBA season with a solid performance in Orlando's season finale. He scored at least 23 points and made at least 10 field goals in all five games. While teammate Paolo Banchero's value in points leagues took a significant hit since he only appeared in 46 games, Wagner retained some of his value by appearing in 60. Regarding category leagues, Franz was a top-40 player in eight- and nine-cat formats. He exceeded his Yahoo! ADP (46), and stands to be a safe third- or fourth-round pick next fall. Wagner's new contract kicks in next season, and he'll earn nearly $38.7 million in 2025-26. |
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Paolo Banchero Paolo Banchero scores 19 points in series finale
Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 5:32 PM
Paolo Banchero played 30 minutes in a Game 5 loss to the Celtics on Tuesday, tallying 19 points (6-of-15 FGs, 5-of-7 FTs), nine rebounds, six assists and two three-pointers.
Analysis: Having scored at least 29 points in each of the first four games of this series, Banchero appeared to be a safe bet to have another good night with Orlando's season on the line. Unfortunately, that is not how things played out. With 9:46 remaining in the third quarter and the game tied at 53, Banchero was called for his fifth foul. Magic coach Jamahl Mosley removed his star forward from the game, and Boston took over with a 35-9 run. To say this was a disappointing end to a highly productive season for Banchero would be an understatement. He did not reach his Yahoo! ADP (35) in category or points leagues, but the Magic forward's issues in fantasy basketball had more to do with him only playing 46 games than any statistical deficiencies. Banchero will be worth grabbing within the first 50 picks in drafts next fall, especially in points leagues. |
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Cory Joseph Cory Joseph puts up 12 points vs. Celtics
Sun, Apr 27, 2025, 4:26 PM
Cory Joseph had a strong outing, finishing with 12 points (5-of-8 FGs), three rebounds, six assists, one steal and two three-pointers in Orlando's Game 4 loss to Boston on Sunday.
Analysis: Joseph provided value to Orlando's starting lineup, logging 27 minutes and tallying his highest points and assists totals of the series. On the heels of the veteran guard's most productive game of the postseason, it's reasonable to expect Joseph will play a similar role for his team on Tuesday. The Magic will look to stay alive as they face the Celtics in Boston for Game 5. |
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Franz Wagner Franz Wagner scores 24 points vs. Celtics
Sun, Apr 27, 2025, 4:18 PM
Franz Wagner put together a strong performance in Game 4, finishing with 24 points (10-of-22 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, seven assists and two three-pointers against Boston.
Analysis: Wagner reached at least 20 points for the fourth time in as many games in Orlando's opening-round series against Boston. He recorded multiple three-point makes for a second-straight game and led the Magic in assists along the way. The Magic could use another productive outing from Wagner in Tuesday's Game 5 as they look to collect a second win and extend the series. |
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Paolo Banchero Paolo Banchero drops 31 points vs. Celtics
Sun, Apr 27, 2025, 4:12 PM
Paolo Banchero tallied 31 points (12-of-32 FGs, 5-of-9 FTs), seven rebounds, three assists, one block and two three-pointers in Sunday's Game 4 loss to the Celtics.
Analysis: Despite struggling with his shooting efficiency, Banchero put forth another high-scoring performance, topping 30 points for the third time in four postseason games against Boston. The former No. 1 pick of the 2022 NBA Draft remained active on the glass and continued to make a living at the charity stripe in the process. Orlando will hope for another well-rounded effort from Banchero in Wednesday's Game 5 in Boston as the Magic look to avoid elimination. |
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Wendell Carter Wendell Carter Jr. has double-double in Game 3 win
Fri, Apr 25, 2025, 4:06 PM
Wendell Carter Jr. had 10 points (4-of-8 FGs), 12 rebounds, one assist and one block in Game 3 against the Celtics on Friday.
Analysis: Carter Jr.'s 10 points may not seem like much, but he was the only Magic player in double figures outside of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. The 26-year-old center also added 12 rebounds to earn himself a double-double. He'll continue to be a crucial piece of the Magic's supporting cast as they look to even the series in Game 4 Sunday. |
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Franz Wagner Franz Wagner has 32/7/8 line in Game 3 victory
Fri, Apr 25, 2025, 4:04 PM
Franz Wagner had 32 points (11-of-27 FGs), seven rebounds, eight assists, two steals and three three-pointers in Game 3 against the Celtics on Friday.
Analysis: Wagner was hardly efficient with 32 points on 27 shots in Game 3, but with neither team reaching 100 points his point total was plenty. Wagner was one of only three Magic players in double figures in Game 3. He'll have to continue scoring at a high level if the Magic are going to have a chance to even the series against the Celtics Sunday. |
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Paolo Banchero Paolo Banchero has 29 points as Magic take Game 3
Fri, Apr 25, 2025, 4:02 PM
Paolo Banchero had 29 points (10-of-25 FGs), six rebounds, one assist, two steals and two three-pointers in the Magic's 95-93 victory over the Celtics in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference playoffs on Friday.
Analysis: While the Magic won Game 3, Banchero's game was much like the first games. The 22-year-old power forward was able to score seemingly at will, but his assist total took a hit with his supporting cast outside of Franz Wagner struggling to score. Banchero has 97 points through the first three games of the series. Orlando will look to even the series against the defending champion Celtics Sunday. |
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Wendell Carter Wendell Carter Jr. hits three triples vs. Boston
Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 4:11 PM
Wendell Carter Jr. shot 6-of-8 from the field and 1-of-2 from the foul line in Wednesday's Game 2 loss to the Celtics, scoring 16 points with eight rebounds and three three-pointers in 33 minutes.
Analysis: After scoring just four points in Game 1, Carter was more impactful on that end of the floor Wednesday night. He shot 75 percent from the field and made all three of his three-point attempts. The eight rebounds were also solid, but, as was the case in Game 1, Carter did not record any defensive stats. During the regular season, he averaged 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game, so that is not a huge surprise. However, given Orlando's offensive struggles outside of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, Carter's play and production are critical if the Magic are to have any chance of winning this series. Trailing two games to none, Orlando hosts Game 3 on Friday. |
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Franz Wagner Franz Wagner records 25/4/4/2 line in Game 2 loss
Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 4:06 PM
Franz Wagner tallied 25 points (10-of-20 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, four assists, two steals and one three-pointer in 40 minutes in Wednesday's Game 2 loss to the Celtics.
Analysis: After shooting below 50 percent from the field and committing five turnovers in Sunday's series-opening defeat, Wagner was more efficient in Game 2. He only committed two turnovers and was one blocked shot shy of a complete stat line. Given the struggles of Orlando's supporting cast, the Magic will need an even better version of Wagner if they're to have a chance of winning this series. The scene shifts to Orlando, with Game 3 set for Friday night. |
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Paolo Banchero Paolo Banchero scores team-high 32 pts in Game 2
Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 4:00 PM
Paolo Banchero finished Wednesday's Game 2 loss to the Celtics with 32 points (12-of-25 FGs, 6-of-11 FTs), nine rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two three-pointers in 43 minutes.
Analysis: Through the first two games of the series, Banchero has scored 68 points on 26-of-52 shooting from the field. There's no denying the fact that the third-year forward is getting what he wants as a scorer. However, due to the inability of some of his Magic teammates to hit shots, Banchero's assist tally has not been as robust as it could be. In many instances, role players tend to perform better at home. The Magic, who are staring at a 0-3 deficit, certainly hope that will be the case in Game 3 on Friday. |
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Wendell Carter Wendell Carter Jr. grabs team-high 13 rebounds
Sun, Apr 20, 2025, 12:40 PM
Wendell Carter Jr. recorded four points (2-of-6 FGs) and 13 rebounds in 28 minutes in Sunday's Game 1 loss to the Celtics.
Analysis: Give Carter credit for his work on the boards and for being Kristaps Porzingis' primary defender for most of Game 1. However, the offensive production was lackluster, a trend that also persisted during the regular season. Carter's average of 9.1 per game was the lowest of his NBA career; this was the first season in which he failed to average double figures. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner will do most of the heavy lifting offensively, but they're going to need help in this series. Fellow starters Carter, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (6/4/2/3 with two three-pointers) and Cory Joseph (zero points, two assists) combining to score 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting isn't good enough. Game 2 is on Wednesday night. |
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Franz Wagner Franz Wagner needs 24 shots to score 23 points
Sun, Apr 20, 2025, 12:35 PM
Franz Wagner shot 10-of-24 from the field and 2-of-2 from the foul line in Sunday's Game 1 loss to the Celtics, accounting for 23 points, three rebounds, five assists, one steal, two blocks and one three-pointer in 36 minutes.
Analysis: Wagner did record a complete stat line in Sunday's series opener, but the efficiency left something to be desired. Worse than the field goal percentage was the fact that he recorded as many turnovers as assists, finishing with five of each. Given the decided disadvantage the Magic are at offensively in this series, they're going to need a consistently elite Wagner if they're to have a chance of winning this series. He'll look to bounce back in Game 2 on Wednesday. |
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Paolo Banchero Paolo Banchero tallies 36 points in Game 1 loss
Sun, Apr 20, 2025, 12:31 PM
Paolo Banchero logged 42 minutes in Sunday's Game 1 loss to the Celtics, scoring 36 points (14-of-27 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs) with 11 rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block and four three-pointers.
Analysis: Banchero was excellent in Game 1, scoring 19 points in the first half and another 17 after the halftime break. Unfortunately for the Magic, he was the only player who could consistently create opportunities offensively. A difficult matchup for most teams due to his combination of size, athleticism and skill set, this could be a big series for Banchero individually. However, the prevailing question is whether or not Orlando will be able to generate enough offense collectively to have a chance of beating the reigning champions. Game 2 is on Wednesday night. |
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Franz Wagner Franz Wagner grabs 13 rebounds vs. Atlanta
Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 4:30 PM
Franz Wagner amassed 13 points (6-of-15 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one blocked shot in 34 minutes in Tuesday's win over the Hawks.
Analysis: Wagner struggled with his shot on Tuesday but contributed in other ways as Orlando earned the seventh seed in the East. The 13 rebounds were the most he's grabbed in a game this season, and the Magic wing only hit double figures in that category twice before Tuesday. Add in the assists and steals; all wasn't lost for DFS players who slotted Wagner into their lineups. That said, Wagner will need to be much better if the Magic are to have any chance of knocking off the Celtics in the first round. |
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Wendell Carter Wendell Carter Jr. posts 19/7/2/0/2 stat line
Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 4:23 PM
Wendell Carter Jr. logged 26 minutes in Tuesday's win over the Hawks, tallying 19 points (8-of-12 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one three-pointer.
Analysis: Carter was excellent on Tuesday, and the time off that comes with earning the seventh seed should benefit him. The Magic center rolled his right ankle during the first half and banged knees with a Hawks defender during the third quarter. The good news is that neither injury forced Carter out of Tuesday's game immediately, and Orlando pulling away during the fourth quarter got him a little more time on the bench late. The Magic don't play Boston in Game 1 of their first-round series until Sunday, which should help Carter regain strength. |
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Anthony Black Anthony Black records 16/4/4/0/2 line vs. Atlanta
Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 4:18 PM
Anthony Black played 28 minutes in Tuesday's win over the Hawks, amassing 16 points (6-of-7 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), four rebounds, four assists, two blocks and three three-pointers.
Analysis: Orlando's starting backcourt of Cory Joseph and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope combined to score 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field. Black was one of two reserves to pick up the slack, combining with Cole Anthony to score 42 points on 16-of-24 shooting. The second-year guard scored 41 points in Orlando's final two regular-season games, likely boosting his confidence ahead of the Play-In tournament. Tuesday's victory means Black and the Magic will be the seventh seed in the East, and they'll face the reigning champion Celtics in the first round. Game 1 is set for Sunday in Boston. |
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Cole Anthony Cole Anthony comes up huge, scores 26 points
Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 4:13 PM
Cole Anthony shot 10-of-17 from the field and 2-of-2 from the foul line in Tuesday's win over the Hawks, scoring 26 points with three rebounds, five assists and four three-pointers in 20 minutes.
Analysis: On a night when starting guards Cory Joseph (5/5/2 with one three-pointer) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (nine points, two assists, one block and one three-pointer) combined to shoot 4-of-14 from the field, the Magic received vital contributions from both âAnthonys.â Cole shot well over 50 percent from the field in scoring his 26 points. His highlights included a 4-of-6 fourth quarter in which he made three three-pointers. Anthony Black also had a big night off the bench, but Cole is the more capable scorer. He'll need to play to this level consistently if the Magic are to have a chance of upsetting Boston in the first round. Game 1 will be on Sunday. |
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