What Jamahl Mosley, Caleb Houstan, Paolo Banchero Said After Magic's Loss at Timberwolves

The Orlando Magic fell 118-111 on Friday night to the Minnesota Timberwolves. After the game, Jamahl Mosley, Caleb Houstan and Paolo Banchero met reporters to discuss the loss.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley directs his team against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center. | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

MINNEAPOLIS – The Orlando Magic fell to a fourth-quarter comeback on Friday night versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing 118-111.

Recap: Despite Banchero's 43, Wolves dominate 4th quarter to overcome Magic

After the game, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley and forwards Caleb Houstan and Paolo Banchero met reporters to discuss the loss.

Here is a partial transcript of their interview sessions and video of each.

Jamahl Mosley

On Minnesota’s hot start to the fourth quarter… 

“I mean they jumped on us early in that fourth quarter. I think they started off probably 15-3. We just, finishing around  the rim, taking some tough ones, allowed them to get out on the break and get some easy baskets. Started knocking  some shots down, and we were just playing uphill from there.” 

On the team’s performance in a back-to-back… 

”I mean that’s the league, you know. I think you’re gonna face these situations and you gotta be prepared for them.  And I think our guys battled, they fought, they, on the second night of a back-to-back, being able to find a way, you  know, guys staying ready. You talk about Caleb Houstan stepping into a big moment, not afraid of the moment,  stepping up big, knocking shots down. But, again, give Minnesota a ton of credit for the way they came out in that  fourth quarter, being able to get stops early and then getting out running. I think we missed a lot of easy, early looks  that allowed them to get on the break. And I’ll go back and look at it and see exactly what those were, but again, for  our guys to continue to battle in this situation, on a back-to-back, you gotta tip your hat to our guys, but also to  Minnesota for the way in which they came out.” 

Caleb Houstan

On the team’s resilience in the fourth quarter… 

“It was good. I mean they’re a good team. I think we fought hard. Obviously, they’re a good team. I think we put up  a really good fight, had a lot of good moments, just have to play like that for the whole 48.” 

On his offensive performance… 

“I just felt good. I felt good in my warmup before the game and then my teammates being able to find me. Getting  down the lane, then they all collapsed and would be able to find me, so just trying to make open shots.” 

Paolo Banchero

On the team’s mentality throughout the game… 

“I think we just came up short. We put in a good fight, made some good runs throughout the game, and gave ourselves  a chance to win. They just made more plays than we did.” 

On what he saw late… 

“I think they just made some big shots and some threes. Had some nice semi transitions where, you know, we had a  couple guys still behind the play and they got to the rim, got some threes. We had a couple possessions where we  didn’t score.”

Up Next

The Magic's road trip concludes Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest against the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on ABC.

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