Sports
Orlando Magic Secures Dominant 116-101 Victory Over Brooklyn Nets in Home Opener
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Orlando Magic launched their 2024-2025 NBA season on a high note, clinching a decisive 116-101 win over the Brooklyn Nets at the Kia Center Friday night. Coach Jamahl Mosley praised the team’s defensive execution and resilience, key factors that set the stage for their first home victory.
Postgame Takeaways from Coach Mosley:
- On the team’s defense and resilience: “I’m very happy with our guy’s ability to respond. These are great lessons…our ability to keep our poise…it wasn’t pretty; it was clunky. But our guys did a good job of making sure they figured it out at the end.”
- Regarding the physicality of the game: “Listen, Cole [Anthony] gets taken out of the air twice. I love physicality; I’m all for it. I’m also for [the] safety of players. Our guys did a great job of keeping their resolve…we’ve grown in that regard tonight.”
- On Paolo Banchero’s playmaking and ball control: “His ability to navigate and find open guys was key. Brooklyn threw different defenses at him, and he managed it beautifully, helping us capitalize on open shots.”
- On Anthony Black’s leadership and skill: “Anthony Black has been great…constantly working with our coaches. He’s an ultimate competitor, both defensively and offensively, pushing the pace and settling the team when needed.”
- On Franz Wagner’s quick start: “It’s our depth that makes this team great. Franz got us rolling early, and it’s our willingness to support each other that’s going to keep us competitive.”
- On the team’s focus on defense: “We have to hang our hat on the defensive end. There was a stretch we got five stops in a row, which fueled our offensive break. That’s what we’re focused on—the defensive end.”
With strong performances from Paolo Banchero, Anthony Black, Franz Wagner, and Cole Anthony, the Magic showcased both depth and resilience, setting a positive tone for the season ahead.
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J Willie David, III contributed to this report.
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Orlando Pride (4-1-0, 12 pts) suffered their first defeat of the 2025 NWSL regular season, falling 1-0 to the Washington Spirit (4-1-0, 12 pts) on Saturday evening at Inter&Co Stadium. The narrow loss ended a dominant four-game winning streak to start the year and marked the first regular-season home defeat to the Spirit since 2019.
The game was defined by the Pride’s offensive pressure, totaling 20 shots and 11 corner kicks, yet they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. A key moment came in the 65th minute, when forward Barbra Banda’s header struck the crossbar, nearly equalizing the game.
Orlando Pride’s Marta shows disappointment over goal ruling. Photo by Florida National News / Harry Castiblanco
Controversial Goal Overturned
Orlando Pride appeared to tie the match in the second half when Marta sent in a corner kick that resulted in a goal, but following a lengthy VAR review, the goal was disallowed, leaving the home crowd frustrated.
Match-Winning Error
The lone goal of the match came in the 63rd minute, when Washington forward Gift Monday intercepted a misplayed pass from Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and tapped it into the net. The mistake proved costly in a game the Pride largely dominated in possession (60%) and shots on goal (6-2).
Seb Hines Reacts to First Loss
“I think 99 percent of the match we did well. We played with intensity and put Washington under immense pressure,” said Head Coach Seb Hines post-match. “The frustration is when you dominate a game and don’t get anything out of it. The performance was good, but we have to move on.”
Match Highlights and Key Stats
Anna Moorhouse made her 34th consecutive regular season start, tying Ali Krieger’s Club record.
Moorhouse also broke the Club record for most consecutive minutes played at the 70-minute mark (3,060 minutes).
Angelina was named Heineken Star of the Match.
Oihane made her first career NWSL start.
Grace Chanda made her NWSL debut as a second-half substitute.
Kylie Nadaner now ranks second all-time in Pride appearances with 95.
What’s Next for Orlando Pride?
The Pride will remain home at Inter&Co Stadium as they look to bounce back against Angel City FC on Friday, April 25. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET and will air on Prime Video. Orlando will aim to get back in the win column and regain early-season momentum in front of their home crowd.
Javier Garcia and Harry Castiblanco
Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Osceola Magic’s historic run came to a close Monday night as they fell to the Stockton Kings, 118-110, in Game 3 of the NBA G League Finals presented by YouTube TV. The showdown at Osceola Heritage Park ended in front of a sellout crowd of 3,421 fans, marking a bittersweet finish to an electrifying season.
Game Highlights
Ethan Thompson led the charge for Osceola with 28 points on 8-of-17 shooting.
Myron Gardner notched a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Dexter Dennis came off the bench to lead Stockton with 23 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the field and 3-of-5 from three.
Isaac Jones, on assignment from the Sacramento Kings, posted 21 points (8-of-11 FG) and 13 rebounds.
Mason Jones added 19 points and 13 assists for Stockton and was named NBA G League Finals MVP.
The game got off to a scrappy, high-energy start as both teams battled for momentum. Despite holding a narrow lead at halftime, the Magic struggled to contain the Kings’ bench unit in the fourth quarter, where Stockton surged ahead thanks to Dennis and Jones’s scoring bursts.
Game Highlights – Video
The Magic’s defensive efforts waned late, allowing the Kings to outpace them in fast breaks and capitalize on second-chance points. While Osceola pushed back in the final two minutes, the deficit proved too much to overcome.
What’s Next for Osceola Magic
With their season now complete, the Osceola Magic close out the 2024-25 NBA G League season with a 22-12 regular season record—a strong showing for the franchise since relocating to Kissimmee.
Fans interested in becoming part of the next chapter can secure 2025-26 season tickets now by visiting OsceolaMagic.com/2025-26-tickets.
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J Willie David, III
Pierredens Jeune, Vdeiographer
Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
STOCKTON, Calif. (FNN SPORTS) – The Osceola Magic fell short in Game 2 of the NBA G League Finals on Friday night, losing 144-126 to the Stockton Kings at Adventist Health Arena. With the series now tied 1-1, the championship will be decided in a winner-takes-all Game 3 on Monday, April 14 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.
Despite the loss, the Magic saw four players score 20 or more points. Leading the charge was Mac McClung, who poured in 34 points and handed out 8 assists, showcasing the explosiveness that’s made him a three-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion. Jalen Slawson added 23 points against his former team, while Myron Gardner contributed 22 points, and Alex Morales chipped in 20.
However, the Stockton Kings were red-hot offensively. Mason Jones led the way with a 27-point, 12-assist double-double, while Skal Labissière added 26 points and 7 rebounds. The Kings were nearly unstoppable from the field, shooting a sizzling 56.7% overall and 58.5% from three-point range, knocking down 24 threes as a team.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR OSCEOLA MAGIC?
The NBA G League Finals, presented by YouTube TV, return to Osceola Heritage Park for a decisive Game 3 on Monday, April 14. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
Fans attending the game will have the chance to snag exclusive merch—the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a limited-edition Osceola Magic G League Finals T-shirt, courtesy of AdventHealth.
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J Willie David, III
Sports@Florida National News.com
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