​LAS VEGAS — Entering their second Summer League season, Magic second-year players Jase Richardson and Noah Penda voiced confidence in showing the progress they’ve made this offseason after their rookie campaigns. That promise materialized in Thursday night’s opener against the Hornets at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion, where the two gave clear displays of the work they’ve put in.
Penda led the way for Orlando, drilling five 3-pointers en route to a team-high 23 points in 29 minutes. Richardson followed with 15 points, four assists, and two steals across 30 minutes. Despite their strong individual performances, the Magic couldn’t sustain the effort after halftime and fell 86-74 to Charlotte, marking the first Summer League loss of the week for Orlando.
Liam McNeeley spearheaded the Hornets’ surge after the break with 28 points, and Charlotte outscored the Magic 49-31 after halftime. The Hornets connected on 42.9 percent from three in the third and fourth quarters (6 of 14) while Orlando cooled to 29.4 percent from deep (5 of 17) in the same stretch.
“I thought it was a good performance by our guys, especially in the first half,” Magic Summer League coach D.J. Bakker said after the game. “The biggest thing that we talked about at halftime and then at the end of the game was just sustained energy and fight.” He added that there were many positives from the first half: ball movement, solid communication, strong rebound effort, good spacing, and the creation of open looks that helped maintain energy levels.
Izaiyah Nelson, taken in the second round, debuted for the Magic in Summer League action, coming off the bench to record six rebounds, a block, and two points in 15 minutes. On the wings, Osceola guard Lester Quinones contributed 10 points, three rebounds, and four assists in 24 minutes, while Magic two-way forward Alex Morales posted six points, four rebounds, and one steal in 27 minutes.
The Florida crew received notable support from across the arena, with several Magic players courtside including Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Jonathan Isaac, Jevon Carter, Jamal Cain, and Tristan da Silva. “That’s huge,” Bakker said of the visible backing. “I think that sets the tone for our regular season. Guys making the commitment. They could be anywhere, and they’re here.”
Support for the front office was also evident, as attendees included president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman, general manager Anthony Parker, senior advisor John Hammond, and executive vice president Pete D’Alessandro.
Looking ahead, Orlando’s Summer League slate continues with a Saturday afternoon matchup against the Miami Heat at 3:30 p.m. (local time) on Prime. “This thing, to me, is about continued improvement,” Bakker noted. “Win this game, lose this game, we’re here for the next 10 days. So we’ve got to watch film, make the corrections, keep teaching, keep improving, and keep coming together.”