The Magic Are Rolling Into Chicago on a Four-Game Win Streak and the Bulls Have No Answer for What's Coming

Orlando is hitting its stride at exactly the right moment. The Magic entered Friday night's matchup against the Chicago Bulls riding a four-game winning streak, their second-longest run of the season, and they've got their sights locked on dodging the play-in tournament altogether. With a 44-36 record and two games left to play, Orlando has already clinched a postseason berth and sits just one game behind Atlanta for the No. 6 seed while holding a one-game edge over both Philadelphia and Charlotte in the race for No. 7.

Coach Jamahl Mosley rolled out his full starting lineup of Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. for the first time since December 7 during Wednesday's 132-120 home victory against Minnesota. That kind of continuity matters down the stretch. Center Goga Bitadze summed up the energy perfectly: "Nobody wants to see us in a seven-game series. That's how we feel. We've got to prove it, but we've got to take care of business and wherever we end up, go from there."

Wagner's Injury Scare Isn't a Problem, But Franz Had to Make Sure

Wagner took a shot to his left leg in the third quarter against Minnesota but returned to the floor and gutted it out. The message afterward was calm and confident. "Pretty quickly, though, it all felt normal and we checked everything," Wagner said. "I think it's important to be out there and get some confidence and play a couple minutes more." Wagner wasn't on the injury report heading into Chicago, which means Orlando gets its full firepower available. The Magic will be without Jett Howard (sprained left ankle) and Jonathan Isaac (sprained left knee), but having your star intact matters.

Chicago Is Desperate and Dangerous, But Still Broken

The Bulls just swept Washington on the road, giving them consecutive victories for the first time since a four-game winning streak back in January. Tre Jones went off for 31 points in Thursday's 119-108 win, including a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line. He's now scored at least 20 points in three straight games for the first time in his career. Collin Sexton added 27 points while Leonard Miller posted a career-best 26 points and 11 rebounds against the Wizards.

But here's the catch: Chicago fired president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley this week. The team's top two scorers, Josh Giddey (strained left hamstring) and Matas Buzelis (illness), both sat out Thursday's game. The Bulls dressed just nine players and are 31-49 heading into this one. They're hungry, sure, but they're also running on fumes.

Orlando owns the recent matchup history, going 7-3 in the past 10 meetings with Chicago. The Bulls can clinch the season series with a win Friday night, but they haven't strung together consecutive victories against the Magic since the 2021-22 season. Sexton is shooting 50% from the floor and 59.1% from three in his past five games against Orlando, so he'll be the one to watch. Still, the momentum belongs to the Magic right now.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.