Magic Most Surprising Team in NBA This Season?
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ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic is celebrating its 27th victory of the season, a 117-106 win against the Charlotte Hornets. That's already five wins more than the team's total (22) for all of last season.
The Magic's success has planted the team on Bleacher Report's Most Pleasantly Surprising Teams, ranking fifth.
"The Magic are still a bad team—but one that could add as many as 10 wins to last year's total of 22," Bleacher Report writes. "That's respectable progress, and the upside is undeniable with Banchero running away with Rookie of the Year and Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. profiling as quality long-term starters."
With 18 games left in the season, the Magic can still improve and maybe even sneak into the Play-In Tournament. Orlando sits just four games back of the Washington Wizards for 10th place in the Eastern Conference. But even if the Magic lands in the lottery again, there's enough momentum to pick things back up next season, where Orlando should be even better.
"Right now, the Magic have one of the most promising rebuilds out there," Bleacher Report writes. "Don't be shocked if these guys rise above the play-in fray as early as next season, with the added bonus of two more lottery picks coming on board in this year's draft."
The Magic begins a four-game homestand tomorrow night against the Portland Trail Blazers. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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