BOSTON — Magic forward Paolo Banchero could only watch from the bench inside TD Garden on Sunday night when his teammates rallied late against the Celtics to open a three-game road trip.
Orlando‘s comeback attempt during a game in which it trailed by as many as 26 points fell short in a 138-129 loss, but the fact that the Magic even made the contest competitive portrayed the team’s ability to fight regardless of who’s on the floor.
After ruling out Banchero (left groin strain) and Jalen Suggs (left knee injury management) earlier in the day, the Magic learned they would also be without starting center Wendell Carter Jr. (left ankle sprain) and backup big Goga Bitadze (sore left ankle) at Boston.
That didn’t deter the likes of Jett Howard (career high 30 points) or rookies Jase Richardson (18) and Noah Penda (13), the latter of whom scored in double figures for the first time in their young careers.
“Depth and defense,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said about his takeaway from the nine-point loss that ended a three-game winning streak. “We have to do a better job, we gave up 48 in that second quarter. That’s what we’ve got to continue to harp on — our defensive standard.
“But then the ability that we have depth for this team, that you can call on anybody’s number at any given time and they’re ready to play for you,” he added. “Because it’s a long season. Eighty-two games-plus is a grind for a lot of these guys. So, knowing that you have somebody that you can look over there and step in and be ready to go, that’s what you take from a game like this.”
Banchero, who missed his sixth consecutive contest Sunday, believes his return is near.
“I think I’m in a good spot, just doing some movement stuff,” he told the Orlando Sentinel before the game. “The groin feels really good so the recovery’s been going well.”
Still, Banchero wasn’t able to pinpoint exactly when he’ll be back. The Magic travel to Philadelphia (9-7) on Tuesday and Detroit three days later for a pair of crucial NBA Cup group stage contests.
“I’m definitely, pretty close,” he said. “I don’t know when but definitely feeling close.”
With Sunday’s loss, the Magic (10-8) have gone 4-2 without Banchero.
It’s familiar spot for most of the group, who played two-plus months without the All-Star forward last season when he suffered a torn right abdominal muscle.
“They’ve been playing good basketball,” Banchero said. “The team’s been really together, locking in on defense. That was something that we emphasized after the rough start, was that we just needed to get back to sitting down and just guarding everybody how we have in the past.”
But Orlando lacked the same defensive intensity that helped them win nine of their past 12 games entering Sunday.
The Celtics shot 5-for-7 from 3-point range, 7-for-9 at the free-throw line and recorded 13 assists when they outscored the Magic 48-30 in the second quarter to lead by 23 points at the half.
But the Magic are also aware of the key roster pieces they were missing Sunday and are proud of the way they fought late on the road.
Behind the play of Howard, Richardson and Penda, Orlando pulled within six points with just over a minute left in the contest before Boston (9-8) closed on a 5-2 run.
“It’s next-man up,” said Howard after he tied Terrence Ross for the most points scored (22) in franchise history in a quarter on the road. “Jase is more than ready to play. Everyone down the line — even Noah, Jamal Cain, Tyus (Jones) even stepped in — I think everybody, even since training camp, has been ready to play. It’s a matter of the opportunity.”
Added two-way center Orlando Robinson, who told the Sentinel he learned he’d be starting “literally two minutes” before tipoff: “The identity of the team — no matter who’s out or who’s in — it’s just that we’re going to compete every night, day-in, day-out. We’re just going to go and try to show our skill set and basketball prowess.”
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Magic at 76ers
When: 8 p.m., Tuesday, Xfinity Mobile Arena
TV: NBC/Peacock