PHILADELPHIA — The Magic set a franchise record for most points in any quarter (51) and any half (86) while notching 140-plus points for just the second time since the 1994-95 season and fifth time in team history Tuesday night against the Sixers.

Orlando recorded the most points in the paint (80) the Magic have ever scored since the stat began being tracked in 1996-97 and had nine players score in double figures for the first time in team history.

But in the eyes of new Magic guard Desmond Bane, the group is just scratching the surface for what’s possible on the offensive end of the floor.

“Not close at all,” Bane said when he was asked how close the team is to filling its potential on offense after the Magic exited Philadelphia on top 144-103 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

“We’re 18-19 games into the season,” he added. “We’ve still got a long way to go and a lot of areas to continue to improve in.”

Still, the Magic have already made strides on that side of the ball after they ended last season with the worst 3-point percentage in the league (31.8%), the third-fewest points scored per night (105.4) and the fourth-lowest rated offense (108.9) across the NBA.

This year?

Orlando has shot inside the top 20 from distance (35.6%), averaged 119.6 points per night (tied-eighth most) and owned the seventh-highest rated offense league-wide (117.9) entering Wednesday’s slate, according to NBA.com.

So, what’s changed?

“It goes back to our ability to get stops and then convert on the other end,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “We have gotten out in a transition a lot more this year but it is because we’ve gotten stops and we’ve been able to convert those things. Our guys are just continuing to trust the pass.

“Our defense is creating so much offense and our guys are trusting it because they trust each other,” he added.

Last year, the Magic averaged the sixth-fewest fastbreak points (13.8) when just 13.1% of their nightly points came in the fastbreak (20th in the NBA).

This year, Orlando is averaging 19.3 fastbreak points (the second most league-wide entering Wednesday), which has accounted for 16.1% of the points per game (also second highest).

Those easy baskets in transition have led to a new sense of confidence from beyond the arc and in their ability to share the ball. Orlando improved to 9-3 when recording 26-or-more assists, something they just 23 times across 82 regular season contests last season (17-6).

“It’s just unselfish,” Bane said. “We’re playing for the next man, guys are making shots, guys are playing with a lot of confidence, it’s free, it’s fun but it’s all being fueled by our defense. We’re getting stops and we’re able to get out and run, and it’s helping everything.”

The Magic (11-8) head to Detroit next for a crucial NBA Cup contest Friday that will determine the winner of East Group B and a spot in the quarterfinals of the league’s in-season tournament.

A Pistons win on Wednesday over Boston would mean six teams would still be able to fill the final three spots of the Cup’s knockout rounds: Orlando, Detroit, Miami, New York and Cleveland. So far, only Toronto, the winner of East Group A, has clinched its spot.

Orlando is also monitoring the status of All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, who missed his seventh consecutive contest Tuesday. Banchero (left groin strain) told the Sentinel earlier this week he’s “definitely, pretty close” to returning.

He was averaging 21.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists through the first 12 games before his injury. Regardless of when Banchero does return, the Magic aren’t worried about re-inserting him into the starting lineup after they’ve gone 5-2 without him.

In fact, Jalen Suggs believes Banchero will fit right into what Orlando aims to accomplish on a nightly basis.

“Paolo’s a great dude,” Suggs said. “He’s a great person. He’s a very smart basketball player. He has every tangible tool to do anything he wants on the court. He’s been with us every road trip, every game, every practice, so he’ll be fine. He’ll come back into the fold and gel in well with us because that’s our brother.

“Regardless of how we’ve been playing while he’s been off, we want him on the court,” Suggs added. “We’re better when he’s on the court. So, we’re looking forward to getting him back healthy and yeah, I can’t wait to watch [Paolo] play basketball again with us in this flow.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

Magic at Pistons

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Little Caesars Arena

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida