The NBA preseason is all about finding team chemistry, getting in prime shape, staying healthy and experimenting with different lineups in advance of the regular season.
The Magic did that and more during Friday’s 128-98 preseason win over the 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Orlando newcomers Demond Bane and Tyus Jones started their second straight exhibition when center Wendell Carter Jr. lead the way with 20 points and 13 rebounds in 21 minutes of action.
The Sixers were without a number of key faces including Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kyle Lowry, Jared McCain and No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe, but saw Tyrese Maxey score 17 points in 12 minutes of first-quarter play.
With their second preseason win under their belts, the Magic return home when they host the Heat, who they beat last weekend in Puerto Rico, on Sunday night at Kia Center.
Starting 5
Franz Wagner returned to the court after he sat out the first preseason game for rest after an extended run at EuroBasket with Germany.
He opened alongside Jones, Bane, Paolo Banchero and Carter against Philadelphia, who portrayed strong defense around the rim early. The Sixers made 4 blocks in the first frame with 2 from Adem Bona alone when Orlando’s starters opened 2 of 10 shooting.
Carter provided a boost early when he found his spots in the midrange to rack up 14 points and 8 rebounds before the break.
Although Banchero opened 1 of 7 from the floor, he forced his way to the free throw line regularly to shoot 5 of 6 there. The Magic forward committed 3 turnovers but still ended with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in almost 24 minutes.
Orlando’s starting lineup committed 9 turnovers as a whole.
Unlike the first preseason game, Orlando’s started played about half the third quarter for some extended playing time together.
Second unit
Anthony Black, Jase Richardson, Jett Howard, Tristan da Silva and Goga Bitadze were the first five off the bench for Mosley.
Black hit his first triple in transition and distributed the ball to total 12 points and 5 assists in 21 minutes.
Bitadze was effective on both ends of the floor when he racked up 11 points, majority in the paint, with 2 blocks and 6 rebounds.
Da Silva found some success from distance in the third quarter when he hit two 3s to end with 12 points in 12 1/2 minutes off the bench.
Howard, the first member of the Magic off the bench, turned the ball over 4 times but was still effective on offense late with two triples in the fourth to total 9 points in almost 20 minutes.
Rookie watch
Richardson remained in the rotation for the second preseason game when he entered halfway through the first quarter.
The 19-year-old appeared confident and comfortable on the floor when he hit his first pair of triples, the first of which he finished through contact to convert a 4-point play.
Philadelphia’s offense attacked Richardson as a smaller guard but he didn’t let it rattle him when he totaled 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 19 minutes.
Second-round pick Noah Penda started and played the entire fourth quarter while making the most of his minutes with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals
Free points
The Magic, who shot 77.5% from the free throw line last season, made their first 10 shots from the charity stripe and didn’t slow down from there.
Orlando for the night made 37 of 42 attempts when the team took advantage of its trips to the line. Philadelphia shot 14 of 20.
The Magic only had three games all last regular season when they made 30 or more free throws and never made more than 35 in a single contest, according to basketball-reference.com.
Suggs update
Mosley was asked about Jalen Suggs (left knee trochlea cartilage tear) before the exhibition with only two preseason games left before opening night Oct. 22, the date set by the franchise for him to return to live action.
“We’re slowly ramping him up,” Mosley said pre-game. “I think he’s different in the sense that how he responds to what we do on a day-to-day [basis.] He’s been in some 5-on-0, does that, not much contact in situations. But slowly trying to bake him in there.
“As we go on the next couple weeks we’ll be able to see and tell more from that,” the Magic coach added.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
