A week away from opening night for the 2025-26 NBA season, Jonathan Isaac described Tuesday’s Magic practice as “probably [Orlando’s] best practice in a really long time.”
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed the veteran forward’s remarks, describing the session as “very competitive” and “very spirited” as the team ramps up toward the regular season.
“There was a lot accomplished,” Mosley said. “We talk about ‘iron sharpens iron,’ sometimes it gets hot. Sometimes it gets tense. And that’s exactly what was needed in our practice. It was probably one of the first times in many years that I’ve been here that it was at the level of competition of competitive edge for a great group.”
Added Isaac: “All we did was play. We were able to get up and down [the court.] Great competition. Guys were going hard, really competing. I felt like we took a lot of steps forward. It was really good.”
The Magic hope to parlay their seemingly successful practice into their fourth win in the preseason when they host the Pelicans at Kia Center on Thursday. Orlando then opens the regular season next Wednesday against the Heat.
Whether Jalen Suggs is able to play in either contest remains to be seen.
Mosley shared that Suggs, who is recovering from a left knee trochlea cartilage tear suffered last season, was able to go through “a little bit of contact” work Tuesday after the Magic guard previously only took part in individual non-contact work this preseason.
The limited contact work took place during 3-on-3 drills as opposed to full 5-on-5, Mosley added.
“He still went through his own individual routine with no-contact but then was able to get a little bit more contact today,” Mosley said.
Typically, full contact is the precursor to an injured player’s return to game action.
The Magic coach said in an ideal world he’d love to see Suggs take the court during Thursday’s preseason finale but warned his availability will be based on how his body responds to the work he did Tuesday.
Mosley shared a similar answer when he was asked directly if opening night is still the target date for Suggs (a timeline set by Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman at the team’s media day Sept. 29).
“Again, it’s going to go back to [Tuesday,]” Mosley said. “Like how does he respond to [Tuesday]? And then if you ask me [Wednesday] after he responds, I may be able to give you a different answer. But in this moment right now, it’s just going to see how he responds to what he was able to do [Tuesday.]”
Mosley said beyond the limited participation of Suggs and Moe Wagner (left knee torn ACL) “everybody made it out OK, which is great,” following practice.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Originally Published: October 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM EDT