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Wendell Carter Wendell Carter Jr. records 13/7/1/3 line Sunday
Sun, May 5, 2024, 10:56 AM
Wendell Carter Jr. logged 34 minutes in Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Cavaliers, tallying 13 points (5-of-10 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), seven rebounds, one assist, three steals, and two 3-pointers.
Analysis: After coming off the bench in the series' first two games, Carter returned to the starting lineup ahead of Game 3 and remained in that role. Sunday's series decider was his best game of the seven, with WCJ recording series-highs in points and steals. Beginning the season with a Yahoo ADP of 104.5, Carter's value was again hampered by injuries. He appeared in 55 games this season and has surpassed six just once in his three full seasons in Orlando. Carter has two seasons remaining on his contract. Still, the injury history makes it difficult to trust him entirely in most fantasy leagues, especially when he failed to crack the top 150 in 8- and 9-cat formats. |
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Gary Harris Gary Harris hits two triples in Game 7 defeat
Sun, May 5, 2024, 10:49 AM
Gary Harris (hamstring) accounted for six points (2-of-4 FGs), two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 27 minutes in Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Cavaliers.
Analysis: Questionable for Sunday's game after sitting out Game 6 with a strained hamstring, Harris started and played 27 minutes. While he did make two 3-pointers, the overall impact was muted. Unfortunately for Harris, injuries have been a significant storyline since the nine-year pro arrived in Orlando via the Aaron Gordon trade. He played 54 games this season, finishing ranked well outside the top 200 in 8- and 9-cat formats. Harris will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and regardless of where he could land, fantasy managers don't need to consider selecting him in most drafts. |
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Jalen Suggs Jalen Suggs shoots poorly, scores 10 points Sunday
Sun, May 5, 2024, 10:43 AM
Jalen Suggs finished Sunday's Game 7 loss to Cleveland with 10 points (2-of-13 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), nine rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 40 minutes.
Analysis: Despite opening the game making six of its first 11 3-pointers, the Magic received a harsh reminder of their most significant weakness in Game 7. Orlando would finish 10-of-31 from beyond the arc, with Suggs making two of his 10 attempts. The third-year guard reached double figures in six of the series' seven games, but he shot below 40% from the field and 29% from three. While injury-related questions and limited production when healthy during his first two seasons negatively impacted Suggs' ADP (141.9), he provided top 100 value in 8- and 9-cat formats. Whether or not this season gives his value a boost ahead of drafts in the fall depends on what changes Orlando makes to its perimeter rotation via the draft and free agency. Also, Suggs will be eligible for an extension this offseason. However, unlike Franz Wagner, the decision does not appear as clear-cut for the Magic front office, even with his improved 2023-24 campaign. |
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Franz Wagner Franz Wagner endures brutal Game 7 performance
Sun, May 5, 2024, 10:34 AM
Franz Wagner shot 1-of-13 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in Sunday's 106-94 loss to the Cavaliers, scoring six points with six rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one blocked shot in 34 minutes.
Analysis: Playing in the biggest game of his brief NBA career, as were many of his Magic teammates, Wagner struggled mightily on Sunday afternoon. He could not make anything happen offensively, missing all five of his 3-point attempts while shooting 1-of-8 from two. Cleveland's Isaac Okoro certainly deserves some credit for that, but this performance was a severe departure from the norm for Wagner. Based on the Yahoo ADP (66.6), 2023-24 went as expected for Franz, who finished the regular season as a 6th-round player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Sunday wasn't a good way for him to go out, but Wagner will be one of Orlando's solid building blocks moving forward. He's eligible for a contract extension this offseason; it would be surprising if the front office did not make that happen. |
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Paolo Banchero Paolo Banchero records 38/16/2/3/1 line in Game 7
Sun, May 5, 2024, 10:05 AM
NBA on ESPN on Twitter
Paolo Banchero logged 41 minutes in Sunday's 106-94 loss to Cleveland, amassing 38 points (10-of-28 FGs, 15-of-18 FTs), 16 rebounds, two assists, three steals, one block, and three 3-pointers.
Analysis: Between the field goal percentage and his five turnovers, Banchero did not have the most efficient Sunday afternoon. However, his overall play was the primary reason why Orlando had a chance to win Game 7. The lack of consistent help from others factored into Banchero's efficiency issues. Still, he gained a significant amount of respect from mainstream followers of the NBA with his play throughout the series. Orlando lost all four games its standout forward committed at least five turnovers. And that category significantly impacted his fantasy value during the regular season. While a top 100 player in 8-cat formats, Banchero finished the regular season outside the top 150 in 9-cat. How Orlando handles its needs on the perimeter (consistent shooting and playmaking) will impact whether Banchero comes off in the fifth round of most drafts (as he did last fall) or slightly higher. |
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Gary Harris ORL starting Suggs, Harris, Franz, Paolo, WCJ
Sun, May 5, 2024, 6:32 AM
Orlando Magic on X
The Magic will start Jalen Suggs, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. against Cleveland in Game 7 on Sunday.
Analysis: Harris is back after missing Game 6, and he will return to his spot in the starting unit. Jonathan Isaac got the start in his place on Friday, but he will return to a reserve role in the final game of the series. |
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Gary Harris Gary Harris (hamstring) available for Game 7
Sun, May 5, 2024, 5:52 AM
Orlando Magic PR on X
Gary Harris (right hamstring strain) will play in Game 7 against Cleveland on Sunday.
Analysis: Harris will be back in the lineup after missing the Game 6 win in Orlando. Jonathan Isaac started in his place in a tall opening unit, though it wouldn't be surprising if he was pushed to the bench with Harris back. |
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Gary Harris Gary Harris (hamstring) questionable for Game 7
Sat, May 4, 2024, 11:39 AM
NBA Injury Report
Gary Harris (right hamstring strain) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Cavaliers.
Analysis: After injuring his hamstring during Tuesday's Game 5 loss to the Cavaliers, Harris did not play in Game 6 on Friday. Jonathan Isaac returned to the starting lineup, making Orlando the first team in postseason history to start four players listed as 6-foot-10 or taller. Isaac did not score in Game 6, but he did grab nine rebounds in 23 minutes on the court. |
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Jonathan Isaac Jonathan Isaac starts Game 6 win, fails to score
Fri, May 3, 2024, 4:25 PM
Jonathan Isaac missed all five of his shot attempts in Friday's Game 6 win over the Cavaliers, going scoreless with nine rebounds and one blocked shot in 23 minutes.
Analysis: Gary Harris missed Game 6 due to injury, which led to Isaac moving into the starting lineup. With this setup, Orlando became the first time in NBA playoff history to start four players listed at 6-foot-10 or taller (Isaac, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr.). While the former lottery pick failed to score, he did tie for the team lead in rebounds in just 23 minutes of action. Carter, who also grabbed nine boards, accounted for 11 points, two assists, one steal, one block, and one 3-pointer. Game 7 of this series will be played on Sunday in Cleveland. |
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Jalen Suggs Jalen Suggs hits six 3-pointers, scores 22 points
Fri, May 3, 2024, 4:21 PM
Jalen Suggs accumulated 22 points (7-of-16 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, and six 3-pointers in 35 minutes in Friday's 103-96 win over Cleveland.
Analysis: After missing all five of his attempts in Game 5, Suggs was responsible for six of Orlando's 11 made 3-pointers in Game 6. His performance was a welcome development for a team that finished the regular season as one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. In the series' first five games, Suggs shot 6-of-25 from deep. While those numbers can lead some to dismiss Game 6 as a fluke, Suggs' confidence to continue taking those shots was vital for him and the Magic. On Sunday, they'll look to do something neither team has done in this series: win on the road. |
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Franz Wagner Franz Wagner tallies 26 points, full stat line
Fri, May 3, 2024, 4:06 PM
Franz Wagner finished Friday's 103-96 win over Cleveland with 26 points (7-of-16 FGs, 11-of-11 FTs), five rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks, and one 3-pointer in 41 minutes.
Analysis: The home team has not lost a game in this series, which remained the case in Game 6 on Friday. Wagner was one of three Magic starters to score at least 20 points, and the stat line shows that he was impactful on both ends of the floor. Game 6 was the second in which the third-year forward surpassed the 20-point mark, with the first being Orlando's Game 4 triumph (34). If the Magic are to win Game 7 in Cleveland on Sunday, they will need another complete performance from Wagner. |
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Paolo Banchero Paolo Banchero scores team-high 27 points Friday
Fri, May 3, 2024, 3:55 PM
Paolo Banchero finished Friday's Game 6 victory over the Cavaliers with 27 points (9-of-20 FGs, 7-of-10 FTs), eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 41 minutes.
Analysis: With their backs against the wall, Banchero and the Magic stepped up to force a decisive Game 7. The All-Star forward led the way offensively while combining with Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs to make some playoff history. That trio became the third-youngest to score at least 20 points in the same playoff game, joining two separate Oklahoma City Thunder tandems (Durant/Harden/Westbrook and Durant/Ibaka/Westbrook). Orlando will need to win in Cleveland on Sunday to advance. Still, Banchero's performance in Game 5 should inspire confidence that he can play at a high level on the road, as he struggled mightily with turnovers (15) in the series' first two games. |
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Gary Harris Gary Harris (hamstring) ruled out for Game 6
Fri, May 3, 2024, 12:33 PM
Cody Taylor on X
Gary Harris (right hamstring strain) has been ruled out for Game 6 against Cleveland on Friday.
Analysis: Harris has been ruled out for this game after an early exit in Game 5. Jonathan Isaac will join the starting unit, though Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz should also take on extra minutes off the bench. |
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Gary Harris Gary Harris (hamstring) questionable Thursday
Thu, May 2, 2024, 6:36 AM
NBA injury report
Gary Harris (right hamstring strain) is listed as questionable ahead of Thursday's Magic-Cavaliers matchup.
Analysis: Harris didn't return to the game after suffering an injury in Game 5 but does have a chance to suit up in Game 6. Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony have a chance to take on larger roles if Harris is unable to suit up. |
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Jonathan Isaac Jonathan Isaac logs 22 minutes off bench Tuesday
Tue, Apr 30, 2024, 5:54 PM
Jonathan Isaac logged 22 minutes off the bench on Tuesday and finished with seven points (3-of-5 FGs), five rebounds and one triple against the Cavaliers.
Analysis: Isaac was part of Orlando's closing lineup for this game after Gary Harris exited with a hamstring injury. Since Harris was ruled out at the end of the third quarter, it is unclear who will start in Game 6 if he remains sidelined. However, it is a safe bet that Isaac will take on extra minutes and be part of their closing lineup once again. He is one of the most impactful defensive players in the league, and if Harris isn't out there to guard Donovan Mitchell, they'll need Isaac on the floor. |
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Franz Wagner Franz Wagner turns in 14/5/6/1/1 line in Game 5
Tue, Apr 30, 2024, 5:43 PM
Franz Wagner posted a full line on Tuesday with 14 points (3-of-11 FGs), five rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block and one triple against the Cavaliers in Game 5.
Analysis: After being a hero in the Game 4 blowout win, Wagner wasn't quite as effective in Game 5. However, he was still able to turn in a well-rounded stat line, which partially made up for the lack of scoring in DFS formats. Unfortunately, this type of performance isn't going to be enough for them to win the series, and Wagner will have to get back on track in Game 6 in Orlando on Friday in order to force a Game 7 on Sunday. |
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Paolo Banchero Paolo Banchero pours in 39 points in Game 5 loss
Tue, Apr 30, 2024, 5:37 PM
Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 39 points (14-of-24 FGs), eight rebounds, four assists, four triples and five turnovers in a 104-103 loss to Cleveland in Game 5 on Tuesday.
Analysis: It may not have resulted in a win, but Banchero was fantastic in this game. He became the third-youngest player to score at least 39 points in a playoff game, with only LeBron James and Magic Johnson in front of him. That isn't a bad list to be on, and they'll need him to continue to play at this level if they want to win their next two games. They'll head back to Orlando for Game 6 on Friday, where Banchero only scored nine points in the blowout win in Game 4. He'll look to bring some of this scoring down to Florida. |
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Gary Harris Gary Harris (hamstring) will not return Tuesday
Tue, Apr 30, 2024, 3:55 PM
Orlando Magic PR on X
Gary Harris (right hamstring strain) will not return to Tuesday's game against Cleveland.
Analysis: Harris will miss the fourth quarter of Game 5, and his status for Game 6 is now in question. Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz should see a few extra minutes in his absence. |
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Jalen Suggs Jalen Suggs provides 12/2/3 line with 7 turnovers
Sat, Apr 27, 2024, 10:23 AM
Jalen Suggs provided a solid line on Saturday with 12 points (4-of-7 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, two triples and seven turnovers against the Cavaliers.
Analysis: Suggs and Paolo Banchero struggled to take care of the ball in the first half and entered the break with a combined nine turnovers, with Suggs accounting for five of them. They cleaned things up in the second half, which helped them outscore the Cavs 61-29 over the final two quarters. Suggs had a big performance in Game 3, and while he wasn't able to replicate that in Game 4, he was able to turn in a solid stat line, despite a rough first half. If they can take care of the ball in Game 5 on Tuesday, they may be able to steal one on the road. |
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Jonathan Isaac Jonathan Isaac chips in 14/7/1/1/2 line off bench
Sat, Apr 27, 2024, 10:14 AM
Jonathan Isaac provided a boost off the bench on Saturday with 14 points (5-of-7 FGs), seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, two blocks and four triples in Game 4 against Cleveland.
Analysis: After starting the first two games of this series, Isaac came off the bench for the last two. He had a decent performance in Game 3, but he provided an excellent boost off the bench in this one. Isaac's defense has been critical through the series, but he was also able to make an impact with from beyond the arc in this one. They won their two home games with Isaac coming off the bench, and the offense was significantly better. Isaac will continue to play an important reserve role in Game 5 on Tuesday. |
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