Orlando hosts Boston today at 2-3, still without a win at home. By our count, the five players who are out account for 91 minutes a game.
Boston arrives with the stronger profile by a wide margin.
The Celtics are 4-1 and have won four straight, with a 118.0 offensive rating and a 108.1 defensive rating. Orlando's numbers over five games are 109.4 and 117.0, a net of -7.6. Jayson Tatum averages 27.6 points in 35.8 minutes. Boston lists Devin Carter out with illness and Mitchell Robinson day-to-day for rest.
The absences, not the opponent, set the ceiling today.
Banchero, Suggs, Isaac, Penda and Nelson are all out. By our count, they represent 91 minutes a game, and Orlando has lost 875 minutes to injury since opening night, sixth most among the 30 teams. Also by our count, three of four day-to-day listings on this club missed the next game. Suggs is projected back around Nov. 10, Banchero around Nov. 22. The Orlando Sentinel's Jason Beede reported no surprises on today's injury report.
Bane and Wagner still have to carry the scoring.
In Toronto, Bane scored 28 and Wagner added 26 points and 11 assists. Wagner is shooting 18.5 percent from three through five games, so the playmaking is doing the work. Bane is five threes short of 1,000 for his career, which by our count is about two games away at this season's pace. That is a projection, not a promise. Jase Richardson told the Sentinel the team is moving in the right direction.
Tomorrow's game against Washington makes this a two-game test.
Orlando hosts the Wizards on Nov. 2, then travels to Phoenix on Nov. 5 and Golden State on Nov. 7. Washington sits sixth at 3-3, half a game ahead of the Magic in ninth. Carter Jr., da Silva, Black and Richardson have to hold up around Bane and Wagner until the injured return. The Magic's pace projects to 33-49, so the margin for a slow week is thin.
Who is out for the Magic against the Celtics?
Paolo Banchero, Noah Penda, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac and Izaiyah Nelson are all listed as out. Suggs and Isaac are projected back around Nov. 10, Penda and Nelson around Nov. 18, and Banchero around Nov. 22.
What is the Magic's record going into Boston?
Orlando is 2-3 and ninth in the East, with a win in its last game. The Celtics are 4-1 and have won four straight.
