After falling to the Hawks on opening night, the Magic believed the mistakes they made Wednesday night — too many turnovers, missed free throws and inaccurate 3-point shooting — were correctable heading into Friday’s game against the Timberwolves.
Orlando, however, struggled in all three areas for the second game in a row to open the year 0-2 under new coach Sean Sweeney, falling 115-93 to Minnesota inside Kia Center on Friday night.
During its lone trip of the regular season to Orlando, the Timberwolves cruised to a 22-point victory when they limited the Magic to just 15 points in the third quarter, 21% shooting from beyond the arc and never trailed throughout the night.
Despite playing in front of the fourth-largest crowd in franchise history (19,551 in attendance), the Magic turned the ball over 16 times for 16 Minnesota points and missed eight free throws (11 for 19).
It was a balanced effort for Minnesota (2-0), which saw six different players end in double figures, including Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels (who both ended with 15 points).
The Magic (0-2) head to New York on Sunday to begin their first road trip of the regular season, which includes two games in three night next week at Toronto.
Starting 5
Opening alongside regulars Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr., Magic forward Paolo Banchero recorded 14 points, six rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes.
Banchero exited the game at the 8:44 mark of the third quarter after he landed awkwardly on his right ankle. He went to the locker room briefly, but returned to the bench and eventually the game at the 5:19 mark of the frame.
The Magic forward, however, didn’t start the fourth quarter and the team said later he was doubtful to return because of a sore right ankle. He did not return to the game again.
Bane had a tough go at it while missing his first six 3-pointers. Ending with just five points in 27 minutes, he picked up his fifth foul at the 10:43 mark of the fourth quarter and fouled out almost 15 seconds later.
Wagner (18 points) struggled from distance as well (1-for-6) and also fouled out with 3:31 left in the game.
It was Carter who led the Magic with 20 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes. Suggs notched 14 points, six rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes.
Not much relief
Still without Anthony Black (right ankle sprain), the Magic failed to find offensive production from its bench.
For the second game in a row, Orlando’s first five players off the bench were Tristan da Silva, Goga Bitadze, Jase Richardson, Jamal Cain and Nikola Vucevic.
No member of the Magic bench scored more than seven points when da Silva specifically struggled from distance (1 for 7).
Minnesota’s bench outscored Orlando’s 48-22.
Difference from distance
The Magic continued to struggle from beyond the arc by starting 1-for-9 from beyond the arc. It didn’t get better from there.
Eventually Wagner and da Silva hit two 3-pointers in the final minute of the first quarter, but Orlando shot 4-for-18 from distance in the first half. The Magic then shot 4-for-21 from 3-point range in the second half to finish 8-for-39 from distance.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves weren’t much better starting 8-for-22 from 3-point range and ending 14-for-37 (38%). The Magic did a nice job keeping Edwards and Ball at bay when the pair shot a combined 2-for-12 from distance in the first half.
Offensive glass
Throughout the preseason, multiple Magic players talked about wanting to do a better job grabbing defensive rebounds.
On Friday night, the Timberwolves grabbed 12 offensive rebounds in the first half alone. In comparison, Orlando had just one offensive board despite a slow start from distance.
Minnesota forward Joan Beringer recorded five before the break while three other Timberwolves had at least two. Those extra chances led to a 10-0 advantage in first-half second chance scoring for the Timberwolves.
By the end of the night, Minnesota grabbed 21 offensive rebounds to help total 17 second-chance points.
Wedding gift
Two Magic season-ticket holders, Darius and Jessica, received a nice surprise during the first quarter on Friday night.
After a surprisal wedding proposal inside Kia Center on Wednesday night, the Magic upgraded the couple’s seats to courtside. Additionally, it was announced Michelob Ultra, a sponsor of the team, agreed to pay for the beer at their wedding.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com