In a game defined more by those sidelined than those on the court, the Lakeland Orlando Magic were ultimately able to get the deep roster contributions they needed in a disjointed affair. They held on after building a big lead, claiming their first consecutive victories of the season in beating the Hawks 104-98.
The first quarter was predictably tight, the result of two disconnected and discombobulated rosters ravaged by injury and illness. Both teams’ defensive structures were porous in the early going, although some plodding offensive sets and inaccurate shooting meant that the scoreboard moved relatively glacially.
Franz Wagner was the linchpin for the Magic during this stretch, either scoring or assisting on 10 of Orlando’s first 12 points, finishing with a personal haul of 9 in the period.