Orlando Magic Wild Card

Supported by the NBA’s second-ranked defense and a healthy collection of the game’s brightest young talent, the Orlando Magic dedicated the 2023-24 season to making their postseason drought disappear. Watching their win total skyrocket from 22 (in 2021-22) to 34 (in 2022-23) to a division-winning 47 in 2023-24, the talented, youthful bunch were able to manufacture their best season since 2011, earning the Eastern Conference’s No. 5 seed in the process. Assertive and ambitious throughout the year, the Magic lived in the paint with the fifth-highest percentage of their points coming from this area, an intriguing dynamic given their opponent. In taking yet another seismic leap, Paolo Banchero paved Orlando’s way as the NBA’s youngest All-Star in 2023-24. Mixing that youthfulness with the poise of a veteran, Banchero had the league’s 14th-most clutch points (98), making cold-blooded game-winners a monthly occurrence. Among Orlando’s other pillars, Franz Wagner was able to gather-step his way into a third-consecutive season of offensive improvement (19.7 points), with Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac, Cole Anthony and Wendell Carter Jr., among others, helping guide Orlando to success.