ORLANDO, Fla. — 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 victory as 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 players score 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 he returned to the bench and eventually the game at the 5:19 mark of the frame.
The Magic forward 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.
Bane had a tough go at it while missing his first six 3-pointers. Ending with just five points in 27 minutes, Bane 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 (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 (Colin Castleton).
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. 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 LaMelo Ball (12 points) at bay as 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. 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.