After facing the Warriors on Monday night, the Magic have a quick turnaround when Orlando travels to Portland for the second night of a back-to-back Tuesday to wrap the team’s four-game West Coast road trip.
Jamahl Mosley‘s squad will then get two days off to spend Christmas with their families back home.
But waiting for them on the other side of the holiday?
Another back-to-back.
The Magic will host the Hornets on Friday night when they play their first home game since Dec. 9 at Kia Center. The following night, the Nuggets make their lone trip to Orlando for a quick rematch after Denver beat the Magic by 11 points last Thursday.
Entering Monday’s game at Golden State, the Magic were 1-3 when playing in the first contest of a back-to-back and 2-2 when playing in the second.
Last season, Orlando went 7-7 when playing in the first game of a back-to-back and 7-7 when playing in the second.
The pair of home games later this week represent just two of Orlando’s six home games in the month of the December. The other seven contests take place on the road, in addition to the team’s neutral site matchup in Las Vegas for the NBA Cup semifinal.
Turkoglu honored
Magic legend Hedo Turkoglu was announced Sunday as a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 by the international basketball federation.
Turkoglu, who spent a total of eight years in Orlando, was one of seven players and one coach to be “recognized for their stellar individual contributions to the sport,” the organization said.
The Turkish forward will be joined by Dirk Nowitzki of Germany, Sue Bird of the U.S., Celine Dumerc of France, Clarisse Machanguana of Mozambique, Ludwik Miętta-Mikołajewicz of Poland, Wang Zhizhi of China, and Ismenia Pauchard of Chile when the 2026 class is honored at an enshrinement ceremony on April 21 in Berlin.
Beyond helping the Magic reach the NBA Finals in 2009, Turkoglu guided his home country to the FIBA EuroBasket Final in 2001. Then in 2010, he led Turkey to the FIBA Basketball World Cup Final and was named to the All-Star Five of the tournament.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Magic at Trail Blazers
When: 10 p.m., Tuesday, Moda Center
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida