Rumors

Wendell Carter Jr. has closely watched the NBA playoffs since the Magic were eliminated in the first round by the Celtics at the end of April, and he’s been impressed with the high level of competition. Unlike some online who view the Finals matchup between two small markets in Oklahoma City and Indiana as negative for the league, Carter believes it’s healthy overall. “It’s been nothing shy of amazing,” he recently told the Sentinel on the phone about the postseason. “With these two teams in the Finals, it’s very good for the NBA. Very healthy that two small-market teams [are] getting this type of exposure. “Of course, I want us to be there one day playing for a championship, to bring a championship to Orlando [but] it’s a good thing what’s going on right now with both teams young, scrappy [to have] made it that far,” he added. “It’s a good sign, for sure.”

Orlando Sentinel

Gary Washburn: #Magic win 95-93. #Celtics offense was porous for most of the night, 21 turnovers was most committed since Jan 2, 2022. Jayson Tatum 36, Jaylen Brown 19, Derrick White 16; Moritz Wagner 32 (last two ORL buckets), Paolo Banchero 29, Wendell Carter Jr. 10.

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The play that appeared to irk Horford the most was one in which Caldwell-Pope and Wendell Carter Jr. collided with Tatum midair while the Celtics forward was driving for a two-handed dunk in the fourth quarter. The usually stoic Horford expressed his outrage following the play and gestured toward nearby Magic players, especially Caldwell-Pope, who was called for a flagrant foul. "I'm not sure what goes into [plays like that]," Horford said. "[The] only thing I would say is that it's the playoffs, so the game is going to be more physical, it's going to be more intense. I feel like those plays are probably going to happen more often than not."

ESPN

Jason Beede: FINAL: #Magic 120, Hawks 95 26 points from Cole Anthony, 19 from Wendell Carter Jr. and 17 from Paolo Banchero help lift Orlando past Atlanta in the Play-In game. Orlando will face Boston in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

x.com

Jason Beede: The #Magic will start Cory Joseph, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. against the Hawks in tonight’s Play-In game at Kia Center.

Twitter

Jason Beede: No surprise: The #Magic list Paolo Banchero, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Wendell Carter Jr., Cory Joseph and Franz Wagner all as Questionable for Sunday’s regular season finale at Atlanta. pic.x.com/fxQrMBnUIQ

Twitter

Orlando Magic PR: INJURY UPDATE: The following will not play tonight for the @OrlandoMagic at Indiana: -Paolo Banchero (right ankle soreness) -Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (left knee strain) -Wendell Carter Jr. (right hip contusion) -Franz Wagner (right knee soreness)

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Mason Williams: The entire starting five from the #Magic’s Southeast Division, No. 7 seed-clinching victory over the Celtics Wednesday — Cory Joseph, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. — is questionable for Friday night’s game at Indiana:

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Jason Beede: FINAL: #Magic 119, Hawks 112 Orlando secures a crucial win over Atlanta behind 33 points from Paolo Banchero, 22 from Franz Wagner and a combined 32 from Wendell Carter Jr. (17) and KCP (15).

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Jason Beede: “We’re hitting our peak right at the right time,” #Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. said after shootaround. “As Mose said, everyone’s feeling good and this is the most important time of the year. So, it’s better now than never.”

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“We’ve got to do a better job at moving the ball from side-to-side,” Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. said. “Defensively — even with their offensive rebounding, which we definitely got to cut out when playing against teams like that — we held them under 100 points. That’s impressive in an NBA game.

Orlando Sentinel

Otherwise, it’s on to Boston for a big showdown with the Celtics, who are defending champs but are six games behind Cleveland for first place. Boston is 2-1 against the Cavs this season, winning once at TD Garden and once in Cleveland, on Feb. 4, which was the last one the Cavs lost. “The level of basketball they’re playing right now, statistically, they’re an NBA Finals team,” Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. said.

New York Times

Orlando Magic Daily: NBA reported one incorrect call on the Last 2 Minute Report from last night. With about a minute left and tied at 104, Wendell Carter should have been called for a defensive 3 second call. Ja Morant missed the shot. The timeout non call was not included on the report.

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Jason Beede: “A lot of guys understand that it’s do-or-die right now,” #Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. said after shootaround in Atlanta. “We want to win games … We want to change the trajectory of our season right now.” (Cole Anthony can be heard off to the side agreeing, lol.) Remarks: pic.x.com/76y3GploRV

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