Sports
Orlando Magic Post-Game: Magic Defeat Chicago Bulls 133-119 to Extend Home Win Streak to 9
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Orlando Magic remain unstoppable at home, defeating the Chicago Bulls in an electric game that showcased their defensive prowess, depth, and resilience. Following the victory, Head Coach Jamahl Mosley and select players reflected on the game during the post-game press conference.
Jamahl Mosley Praises Defense, Energy of Fans
Mosley on Being Undefeated at Home
With the Magic now holding a perfect 9-0 record at home, Mosley credited the team’s success to the passionate fanbase.
“This building, these fans, I think they’re incredible,” he emphasized. “We have some of the best fans in the NBA. There’s just a different energy level. These guys are fueled by that… the support we have on a nightly basis here is absolutely fantastic.”
Wendell Carter Jr. Returns as Magic Stay Undefeated at Home
Wendell Carter Jr.’s Return to the Court
Center Wendell Carter Jr., who played 18 minutes in his return from injury, focused on finding his rhythm.
“I should have kept him under [minutes],” Mosley admitted. “But he was good. It was just good to get him out there again, letting the game come to him, getting the flow, and being back out there with his teammates.”
Mosley highlighted the mission for Carter’s return: “Not worried about points, not worried about stats—just getting him on the floor, getting out of this game healthy, and finding a rhythm with his teammates.”
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored a season-high 24 on 6-for-10 shooting from 3-point range helped defeat the Chicago Bulls at the Kia Center. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s Stellar Performance
Shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope showed off his sharpshooting skills, draining several critical three-pointers.
“Just keeping that confidence…they’re getting the right shots,” Mosley said. “He was in the gym working yesterday, continuously working, knowing at some point they’re going to fall. Trusting the process of your work—that’s what matters.”
Dynamic Backcourt Duo
The Magic’s defensive identity was on full display with their backcourt’s tenacious performance.
“I [have to] talk about their defense first. It’s incredible,” Mosley praised. “There’s no nights off for any guards in this league with those guys.”
He noted the synergy between the guards: “They start our defense, and their ability to knock shots down as they did tonight is huge. But just finding that rhythm, finding that chemistry with one another was great.”
Starting Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze Together
Mosley experimented with starting both Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze, focusing on size and physicality.
“It’s [going to] be by committee,” he explained. “Chicago played a small ball, but we have to stick to our strengths…our size and physicality are one of those strengths. Goga is playing big-time basketball right now, and they complement each other very well.”
Magic’s Record Stands at 9-0 at Home
The Magic continue to dominate at home, powered by their stifling defense, fan energy, and consistent team contributions. With their perfect record intact, the Magic are emerging as a force to reckon with in the league.
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Javier Garcia, Harry Castiblanco, J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Orlando City SC (2-2-1, 7 points) delivered a commanding 4-1 victory over D.C. United (1-1-3, 6 points) on Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium, handing the visitors their first loss of the season. In a historic performance, all three of the Lions’ Designated Players found the back of the net in the same match for the first time in club history.
Offensive Explosion Fuels Orlando City’s Victory
Orlando City wasted no time setting the tone, breaking through in the 21st minute when Luis Muriel connected on a header off a cross from Alex Freeman, assisted by Iván Angulo. The Lions doubled their lead in the 44th minute, courtesy of a deflected strike from Martín Ojeda after Angulo disrupted D.C.’s defense.
The second half saw continued dominance from the home side. Freeman found the net in the 50th minute with a header off a free kick delivered by Ojeda. Marco Pašalić sealed the deal in the 56th minute, curling a spectacular left-footed shot into the top corner, earning him the Heineken Star of the Match.
D.C. United managed to get on the board in stoppage time (90+1′) when Lukas MacNaughton headed in a goal, assisted by Christian Benteke and Rida Zouhir.
– FNN Sports 2025 Miami Open Coverage
Historic Night and Key Performances
Martín Ojeda recorded his 24th and 25th career assists, tying with club legend Nani for second-most in team history.
Luis Muriel netted his second goal of the 2025 season, bringing his total to seven across all competitions for Orlando City.
Homegrown goalkeeper Javier Otero made his first career MLS start, recording four saves and securing his first win.
Alex Freeman (20 years, 227 days) became the second-youngest player in club history to register a goal and assist in a single match, behind only Daryl Dike.
What’s Next for Orlando City?
The Lions will now prepare for a cross-country showdown with the defending MLS Cup champions, LA Galaxy, on Saturday, March 29, at Dignity Health Sports Park. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET and will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
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Monica Hoyos and Harry Castiblanco
Florida National News and FNN News Network
Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
SEBRING, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – A historic sports car race added another memorable chapter to international motorsports history on Saturday night as Porsche Penske Motorsport captured a commanding win at the 73rd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Photo by Florida National News / Roman Garay
Nick Tandy secured his place among endurance racing legends by becoming the 10th driver to win the prestigious Triple Crown of Endurance Racing: the Rolex 24 At Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and 12 Hours of Sebring. Tandy’s victory completes his career “Tandy Slam,” having also won at Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps.
Tandy, driving the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963, shared the victory with teammates Felipe Nasr and Laurens Vanthoor. The trio had also won the Rolex 24 At Daytona earlier this year. For Tandy, this marks his fourth Sebring win (previously GTLM – 2018, 2019, 2020), while Nasr (DPi – 2019) and Vanthoor (GTD PRO – 2023) each claimed their second Sebring victory.
Porsche Dominates IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
The No. 7 Porsche made history as the first car to win back-to-back IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races at Daytona and Sebring in the same season since Wayne Taylor Racing’s 2017 feat with a Cadillac DPi-V.R.
The Porsches surged late in the race, capitalizing on cooler night conditions to outperform the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R. The No. 7 Porsche crossed the finish line 2.239 seconds ahead of its sister car, the No. 6 Porsche, driven by Mathieu Jaminet, Matt Campbell, and Kevin Estre. The No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian Acura ARX-06 claimed third.
Class Winners Shine at Sebring
- Inter Europol Competition claimed the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) victory with the No. 43 ORECA LMP2 07, driven by Tom Dillmann, Bijoy Garg, and Jeremy Clarke. Strategic pit stops and a late-race incident helped secure the win.
- AO Racing dominated the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class with the No. 77 Porsche 911 R GT3 (992), driven by Laurin Heinrich, Klaus Bachler, and Alessio Picariello.
- Winward Racing repeated its 2025 Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) class victory with the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3, driven by Russell Ward, Philip Ellis, and Indy Dontje. Ellis’ aggressive late-race pass secured the win.
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J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
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