Magic Return to Practice 'Fresh and Rejuvenated' After All-Star Break

The Orlando Magic, back at practice Tuesday evening for the first time post-All-Star break, utilized their week away to get "fresh and rejuvenated" for the season's final push.

The Orlando Magic were back at practice on Tuesday evening at the AdventHealth Training Center for the first time since the conclusion of the All-Star break. | Mason Williams, Orlando Magic on SI

ORLANDO, Fla. – Bouncing basketballs, wall stretches and Bob Marley's greatest hits blaring over the loudspeaker.

All of that could only mean one thing: the Orlando Magic were back on the AdventHealth Training Center practice courts Tuesday evening.

The last time the unit was together, Orlando pieced together a 16-point victory over division rival Charlotte. It sent them into the week-long All-Star break at 27-29, and after other results played out, they hit the hiatus seventh in the East.

After that win, the leading voices around the Magic noted the importance of the journey awaiting them on the other side of the stoppage. Beginning Thursday in Atlanta, Orlando's season faces a 26-game sprint to its finish with plenty still to play for.

MORE: With 26 games to go, Magic in no position to relax after All-Star break

For the Magic, both the time away from the facility and a good session their first time back in it were necessary.

"The break was fantastic," coach Jamahl Mosley said Tuesday. "Very necessary to get some time with the family uninterrupted, which was great to be able to be around the wife and kids and just be able to spend that time away, reflecting a little bit on the first half of the year."

"Just being able to get back into this gym was absolutely great. The energy was competitive; it was tough, it was fiery, very spirited."

That reflection, which Mosley said he couldn't help but do from time to time, let the fourth-year coach grasp just how much time his team has spent as a battered unit this year.

After all, the Magic's trio of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs combined to miss 75 games, and Orlando collectively missed 173 through the first 56 contests.

"Realizing how many guys were out for the time frame that they were out, I think we forget that," Mosley said. "But going back and looking at those games and just realizing you haven't been a whole team."

Prior to the break, Banchero had been back from his 34-game torn right oblique absence for 17 games. He said he planned to use the break to get back into "elite" shape. Now?

"I feel good," Banchero said. "The break was really good to me; got some good work in, relaxed. Everyone else had a good break as well, so everyone's fresh and rejuvenated."

Wagner's stint with his torn right abdominal muscle lasted 20 games, but he appeared in the last 11 before break. He, like Banchero, could've been an All-Star under normal circumstances where both were healthy. Yet, the chance to utilize extra rest and recovery wasn't a bad alternative either.

"It was good to get away a little bit and just relax a little bit – the mind and the body," Wagner said.

Suggs, who'd missed 19 of the last 20 games and 21 total, perhaps needed it most.

Mosley said Suggs was still involved in only non-contact aspects of Tuesday's practice as he rehabs the left quad contusion responsible for his last nine absences. But, he did do some running portions of the workout.

When asked about the value the week off presented to both Suggs, who is trying to return, and others who are trying to play catch-up, the Magic coach called it "huge."

"Any time you get a moment to reset and do the things that you weren't able to because you were walking back right in the middle of season, so you're trying to play yourself into some shape as well as do some extra cardio on the side – those aren't easy tasks to try to accomplish throughout the year," Mosley said.

"Having a week where you can settle down a little bit and then get the cardio, the conditioning and the elite shape that they're talking about, you're able to do that on your own at your pace without having to rush into a game the next day."

Soon, they'll return to the pace of playing a game every other day. But for an Orlando team that's had its fair share of bumps and bruises, a moment to catch their breath came at the right time.

The first night's returns were mostly positive.

"Guys were moving around, loud, talking," Banchero said. "It was good energy."

"I thought it was a good first day, played a little bit," Wagner said. "It was good to get back to it."

Up Next

Orlando visits East No. 8 Atlanta (27-29) at 7:30 p.m. at the State Farm Arena on Thursday, Feb. 20.

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