Wanting more than Play-In berth, Magic set to host surging Pelicans

Although the Magic clinched, at worst, a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament with Tuesday’s 112-92 win over the Hornets, the team is far from satisfied.

Sure, Orlando has secured a non-losing season for the first time since 2018-19 with at least 41 wins, but there’s more that Jamahl Mosley’s squad wants to achieve with 13 games remaining until the postseason.

“We’re not here to play for the Play-In. We want to solidify a playoff spot,” Magic guard Cole Anthony said Tuesday. “We’re in a position where we can do that.

“[If ] we just stay focused, keep taking care of business, working hard, we’re going to have a chance.”

So far, so good.

Entering Wednesday’s games, Orlando (41-28) sat fifth in the East, just a half-game behind No. 4 New York (41-27) and 2.5 games in front of No. 6 Philadelphia (38-30).

Finishing the season inside top 6 would allow the Magic to avoid the Play-In altogether and clinch a first-round playoff berth. If Orlando can catch New York to end up fourth or better, it would mean homecourt advantage in the first round.

It’s not outlandish to consider this feat achievable for Orlando. In fact, the Magic are just as close to No. 3 Cleveland (2.5 games behind the 43-25 Cavaliers) as No. 6 Philadelphia is to the Magic in the standings.

BasketballReference.com gives Orlando a 92.9% chance to finish top 6 in the East but just a 27.1% shot to land in the fourth spot.

The road ahead is not easy. The Magic’s next four games come against postseason-caliber opponents in the West, starting tonight against New Orleans (Bally Sports Florida, 7).

Although the Magic and the Pelicans (42-26) are facing off in the regular season for the first time this year (the sides split two games in pre-season), there’s a lot in common.

Both sat fifth in their respective conferences as of Wednesday, were half a game behind the fourth seed and had gone 8-2 in their last 10 games.

The common theme to their success? Defense.

In the last 10 games, Orlando’s defensive rating (105.8) was second-best in the NBA behind only the Knicks (104.3). Right behind the Magic at third was New Orleans (106.6).

During the same stretch of games, the those three teams were in the same order at the top of the league for opponent points allowed: New York (96.7), Orlando (100.2), and New Orleans (103.1).

Simply put, expect a defensive battle against the Pelicans — the type of game that Orlando’s top defender, Jalen Suggs, thrives in.

“He’s the head of the snake,” Mosley said about the Magic guard, who recorded 3 steals vs. Charlotte. “As he’s picking up full-court, getting into the basketball, that backline [is] making sure they’re protecting him, sticking to our principles knowing what we’re capable of doing.

“But he starts it all off. His energy, his enthusiasm, it just carries over from him down to the next guy.”

The Magic feature a clean bill of health before facing the Pelicans.

New Orleans forward Matt Ryan (illness) is questionable while center Cody Zeller (face mask) is available. Second-year guard Dyson Daniels (left knee meniscectomy) remains out.