Jonathan Isaac Shows Potential In Orlando Magic's Win vs. Houston Rockets
ORLANDO - When healthy, Jonathan Isaac has proven capable of being a difference-maker for the Orlando Magic.
Orlando's season-opener was perfect proof of that, as he had 11 points and four rebounds plus an emphatic block in its 116-86 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday at the Amway Center.
The 30-point win was Orlando's largest margin of victory in a season-opening game in franchise history.
Isaac sparked a 24-7 run to close out the third quarter. He got to the rim on three separate occasions for seven points in the final minute and 34 seconds of the quarter. He capped off the third stanza with a huge block over Jalen Green and drew a technical foul.
"I saw it was Green, and I was like OK, here we go. I'm either going to get dunked on, or I'm going to block it," Isaac said. "I just went forward with everything I had, and once I got it, I was kind of shocked myself. The excitement poured over, I looked for a little second, and I tried to look away, but I got it. I was just excited about the play and excited about the moment."
Isaac added: "I feel that I am one of the most dominant defensive players in the NBA. To go through what I've been through when it comes to injuries and being able to come back and still be able to trust it, that was one of those moments where I'm good. I'm absolutely good. I'm back, invested and can go block shots for this team."
For Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, Isaac's block helped set the tone and gave his team even more momentum heading into the final quarter.
"You hear the energy and feel the energy behind that," Mosley said. "That was such a momentum-building play. I know he got the technical, and we don't want to do that, but the other side of it is we have also said we're a defensive team, and that's setting the tone right away defensively. We're going to protect the rim."
Isaac's stretch in the final part of the third quarter drew high praise from Cole Anthony and proved the impact he can have off the bench for a young Magic team.
"He just does some things, and I'm just like, 'Dang,'" Anthony said. "He changed the game with his energy. Whether he had three, maybe four blocks and then after that, sprints the floor, gets a layup [and] draws a foul. He's a joy to play with.
"I've said it before, he's probably the biggest difference-maker on this team as a whole. [There's] not any dudes in the league like that who can guard one through five, who have high of a motor. It's awesome playing with JI. I love him, and I'm so happy he's healthy."
Isaac and the rest of the bench helped take control of the game for the Magic, combining for 61 points. Anthony led the team with 20 points. Orlando's starters had 55 points.
"I really believe it's a baseline," Isaac said of the bench's performance. "With this being the first game, obviously we're going to grow together [and] we're going to continue to gel. We're focused on being an asset to the game and being an asset to the first unit and coming in and changing the momentum of games and taking it to another level."
As a whole, the Magic had six players finish in double-digits. Franz Wagner led the starters with 17 points, and Paolo Banchero had 12 points plus five assists.
Orlando heads to the West Coast for a four-game road trip that begins on Friday when they play the Portland Trail Blazers at 10 p.m. ET at the Moda Center.
