Sean Sweeney Wins First Game With Orlando Magic, Gives Jalen Suggs Injury Update
· Yahoo Sports
The Orlando Magic earned their first win of the season with a 111-102 victory over the defending champion New York Knicks. Even more impressive, the Magic pulled off the victory on the road in their first game without star forward Paolo Banchero.
This marked Sean Sweeney's first victory as Orlando's head coach, and he couldn't have been more proud of the way his players fought for the win.
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Sweeney praised the Magic's toughness and resilience after overcoming a slow shooting start. He emphasized the team's ability to remain aggressive, execute offensively and stay together throughout the game. He credited Orlando's competitiveness and determination for helping the team battle through adversity over 48 minutes.
Without Banchero, the starters stepped up in a major way. Franz Wagner nearly recorded a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. Desmond Bane added 22 points.
Anthony Black also delivered a strong performance in his season debut, scoring 18 points while converting five of his seven attempts from 3-point range, including several timely shots.
Black provided a much-needed spark, helping the Magic score 40 points in the fourth quarter to overcome a 10-point deficit.
During the postgame press conference, Sweeney credited Black for providing an immediate boost off the bench in his return to action. He praised Black's aggressiveness on both ends of the floor, highlighting his offensive decision-making and defensive instincts.
Sweeney added that Black's teammates were excited to have him back and emphasized his ability to apply what he has learned defensively.
Sweeney expressed excitement for his players after securing his first NBA victory as a head coach. He emphasized that the win was especially meaningful because the Magic had to overcome adversity against the defending champions.
He praised the team's ability to remain aggressive and stay committed to its approach despite facing challenges throughout the game.
Despite the first win of the season, the injury bug continues to hurt the Magic. With Banchero already sidelined, Jalen Suggs suffered a noncontact injury to what appeared to be his right leg during a fast-break attempt at the rim.
This would be another unfortunate beginning to the season for the Magic, who seem to not be able to stay healthy for a strong majority of the season.
After the game Sweeney said Suggs would undergo further evaluation following the game but noted that he was in good spirits.
Next up, the Magic continue their road trip against the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 28.