Magic have another opportunity to test lineups in season finale at Heat
The Orlando Magic have one more opportunity to test rarely used lineups before the 2023 season ends.
The Magic (34-47) will wrap up their season at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Miami (43-38) in a matchup in which neither team is likely to play its top performers many minutes.
The Heat are locked in at No. 7 in the Eastern Conference, the top spot to qualify for the postseason play-in tournament.
Miami will host the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday at the newly-named Kaseya Center to determine who’ll be the No. 7 seed for the East’s playoff bracket and play the Boston Celtics in the first round. The loser will host the conference’s concluding play-in game on Friday to determine the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.
The Nos. 7-10 seeds in each conference compete in the play-in tournament for the Nos. 7 and 8 spots in the playoffs.
After being eliminated from contending for a spot in the play-in tournament with their Tuesday loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Magic shifted their focus to trying out different rotations.
They sat their starters and didn’t play guard Cole Anthony, their top reserve, in Thursday’s home loss to the Cavaliers.
Guard Markelle Fultz and forward Franz Wagner were available and back with the starting lineup alongside Anthony, guard Jalen Suggs and big man Goga Bitadze in Friday’s loss at Brooklyn.
Forward Paolo Banchero (back tightness), center Wendell Carter Jr. (left hip soreness), forward Jonathan Isaac (season-ending left inner thigh surgery on March 3), guard Jay Scrubb (ineligible to play) and forward Moe Wagner (sprained right ankle) sat out.
Guard Gary Harris was also available off the bench but didn’t play.
Banchero, Fultz, Harris and Franz Wagner are questionable to play against the Heat. Carter Jr., Isaac, Scrubb and Moe Wagner are listed as out.
Playing different groups and guys who weren’t previously in the rotation allows the Magic to gather intel they may not have had earlier in the season.
The loss to the Nets was the first time Anthony, Fultz and Suggs started with each other.
“It’s great to get a look at it,” coach Jamahl Mosley said of the different lineup combinations. “To see what things work for us. What we can continue to improve on. The ability for these guys to compete no matter who steps on the floor. That’s one thing we need to continue to see with this group.”
Bitadze, who was already in the rotation as a backup big, is a player who has capitalized on the increased opportunities.
He had 15 rebounds — tying a career-high, including 5 offensive boards — and 12 points against the Nets for his second double-double of the season.
“I’m just trying to go out there and show everyone I’m giving 100% every time I step on the court: crash the glass, making the right decisions and right plays and set good screens for my teammates,” Bitadze said. “I think people see that. They respect that. I get playing time and it pays off.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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