ATLANTA — When the Magic began their seasonlong five-game, nine-day road trip more than a week ago, Orlando was hoping to move past its pair of home games dropped at Kia Center.
Those on-court problems, however, only continued when the team fell at Philadelphia and at Detroit to tally four losses in a row.
But Jamahl Mosley‘s squad didn’t quit.
Instead, Orlando won two in a row at Charlotte and Washington during a trip that Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. described as “a real eye-opener.”
“It was a self-evaluation that had to happen,” Carter said after shootaround Tuesday prior to facing the Hawks at State Farm Arena. “Everybody did a really good job of that. And then as a group, we’ve just become closer and closer throughout the lows after dropping four in a row.
“We had to turn something around so I give a lot of credit to our team for being able to bounce back and just be able look each other in the eye and understand that it’s a group effort,” he added. “Everybody has to show up and do their jobs for us to win.”
Before battling the Hawks, who were without All-NBA guard Trae Young (right knee MCL sprain), Carter scored in double figures against the Hornets and Wizards. At Washington, he delivered a double-double by way of 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Orlando was 3-1 when it scored 120-plus points and 2-0 when it allowed less than 110.
A key factor to the Magic beginning to find a pathway to success — a mixture of physical defense and an up-tempo offense that relies on getting stops on the other end — has been the play of Paolo Banchero.
In five games before Tuesday, the All-Star forward averaged 25.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per night. Those nightly marks came after he only scored 11 points during 36 minutes in a home loss to the Hawks on Oct. 24.
“None of us expect him to be perfect,” Magic guard Jalen Suggs said about Banchero after practice Monday. “Nor do we expect anybody in this building to be perfect, but the continued improvement and attention to detail is something that we do harp on and we do want to pay attention to. And he’s done that.
“He’s bounced back from it really well, not only right after the fact but coming in the next day and continuing to use his voice, continuing to be the same human being that Paolo is each and every day,” Suggs added.
After the Magic return from Atlanta, they face the Celtics twice at home. First, the sides meet up Friday as a part of NBA Cup group play and then again Sunday in a regular matchup.
Boston, who is without All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum (right Achilles repair), features a largely different roster than the one that eliminated Orlando in the first round last postseason.
The Magic hope to continue to remain true to their identity when they make their way home.
“I just feel we probably have more direction overall,” Anthony Black said Tuesday at shootaround. “We’re leaning into our defense, letting the offense figure itself out, so our mentality is a little better and we’re just playing better.”
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Magic vs. Celtics, NBA Cup
When: 7, Friday, Kia Center
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida