The Orlando Magic suffered a defeat against the NBA’s current weakest team, a loss that could prematurely and disappointingly conclude the season for German stars Franz and Moritz Wagner, alongside Tristan da Silva.
«You simply cannot lose games like this when you have playoff aspirations,» a visibly dejected da Silva stated at the press conference following his team’s narrow 126-128 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
This defeat marks a new low in what has already been a disappointing season for the Magic. It was not only their fifth consecutive loss and an embarrassment against a team that had previously set a franchise record with 16 straight defeats, but it also severely jeopardizes Orlando’s postseason hopes.
Da Silva was dismayed at how Orlando could be so thoroughly humiliated precisely in this critical stretch of the season. He emphasized that this is the time of year for maximum motivation, to fight for every possession, and to execute every play precisely. He saw no reason for a lack of motivation, but stressed that it must be demonstrated.
Head Coach Jamahl Mosley, whose job is likely even more precarious after this loss, had explicitly warned his team before the game not to underestimate their opponent, the NBA’s worst team.
However, none of these warnings seemed to be heeded from the start. Da Silva conceded that many crucial factors were overlooked from the outset. He explained that against a fast-paced and high-pressure team like Indiana, they should have controlled the game better from the beginning and imposed their own style.
Instead, the Pacers dictated the game, scoring 14 fastbreak points in the first quarter alone. The Magic once again found themselves in an early hole, facing a double-digit deficit.
Did the Magic Respect Their Opponent? Mosley’s Answer: «Not for the Entire Game.»
In the second quarter, the Magic finally found their rhythm, allowing only two transition points. Mosley praised this rare strong phase, noting that discussions about transition defense paid off and were reflected in the statistical difference. With a 40-25 quarter, the Magic took the lead into halftime.
After halftime, however, they once again took the game lightly. When asked if his team respected the Pacers as an opponent, Mosley irritably replied, «Not for the entire game.» This was evident in the third quarter, where the Pacers exploded for 44 points—their second-highest quarter total of the season.
The Magic’s defense completely lacked intensity during this period. The Pacers, who have struggled with shooting throughout the season, shot nearly 60 percent from the field (13/22 FG) and an impressive almost 70 percent (9/13 3FG) from three-point range in that quarter.
«We simply took our foot off the gas too often,» Mosley concluded. Although his team mounted a comeback in the final quarter, superstar Paolo Banchero failed to force overtime in the closing seconds with the score at 126-128.
Wagner’s Struggles – da Silva a Bright Spot
While Banchero was his team’s leading scorer with 39 points, he also committed 5 turnovers. Mosley criticized the recurring carelessness with the ball, stating, «We had 11 turnovers that led to 20 opponent points. That’s a crucial part of the story.»
Apart from Banchero, da Silva, with 21 points, was one of the few bright spots for the Magic. His German national team colleague Moritz Wagner, however, was benched for the second consecutive game («DNP — Coach’s Decision»). His brother Franz remains unavailable following recurring setbacks and has only played four games in the 2024 calendar year.
While the Wagner brothers harbored championship aspirations before the season, Orlando is now fighting just to make the postseason. Their longest winning streak of the season (seven games) has now been followed by their longest losing streak, with five consecutive defeats.
In the Eastern Conference, the Magic currently sit in eighth place with a 38-33 record. As it stands, the «German Team» would need to win one of two Play-In Tournament games to secure a playoff berth.
However, the Miami Heat (38-34) and Charlotte Hornets (37-34) could soon overtake Orlando. Should the Magic slip to ninth or tenth place, they would then need two wins in two games to even achieve their minimal goal of reaching the playoffs.
On Wednesday night, the Orlando Magic will face the Cleveland Cavaliers, featuring German national team captain Dennis Schröder. The Cavs (44-27) are currently ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference.