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Osceola Magic Fall to Motor City Cruise 132-118, Five-Game Winning Streak Ends

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Photo by Bernie Walls / Florida National News

DETROIT (FNN SPORTS) — The Osceola Magic (25-10) saw their five-game winning streak come to an end Friday night, falling 132-118 to the Motor City Cruise (22-13) at Wayne State Fieldhouse.

Motor City was led by Wendell Moore Jr., who scored a game-high 24 points, while Quincy Olivari added 20 points. Isaac Jones contributed 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting as the Cruise bench outscored Osceola 63-39.

For the Magic, Phillip Wheeler led the way with 23 points on an efficient 8-of-9 shooting performance. Lester Quiñones added 21 points, while Colin Castleton recorded his 10th double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Both teams came out firing in the first quarter, each shooting above 50 percent from the field. The Magic took a 41-33 lead after the opening period behind 12 points from Quiñones and 11 from Jarron Cumberland, including three shots from beyond the arc.

Scoring slowed in the second quarter, with neither team surpassing 40 percent shooting. Motor City trimmed the deficit, but Osceola maintained a 61-56 lead at halftime.

The Magic extended their advantage to double digits early in the third quarter before the Cruise shifted momentum. Motor City erupted on a 15-0 run over a four-minute stretch midway through the period to take its first lead of the game. Jones scored 11 points on perfect shooting in the quarter, while Moore added 10 points. The Cruise closed the third quarter on a hot streak to take a 105-94 lead into the final frame.

Osceola was unable to recover from the third-quarter surge as Motor City maintained control in the fourth to secure the victory.

Up Next

The Magic conclude the regular season Saturday, March 28, with the second game of their series against the Cruise. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and will stream on NBA G League platform NBAGLeague.com.

Osceola will host an opening-round game in the 2026 NBA G League Playoffs, presented by Google, on Wednesday, April 1. The opponent and game time will be determined at the conclusion of the regular season.

Game Notes

  • The Magic have scored 4,166 total points during the regular season, their highest total since the 2019–20 season.
  • Quiñones now has 815 points this season, the second-most in a single season in franchise history, surpassing Troy Caupain’s 2018-19 mark.
  • Reece Beekman recorded his 70th steal of the season, tying TJ Price for the third-most steals in a single season in franchise history.

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Central Florida News

Orlando Magic Earn NBA Team International Strategy Award for Second Consecutive Year

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Orlando Magic Add Veteran NBA Coaches, Player Development Leaders to Sean Sweeney's Coaching Staff

NEW YORK (FNN SPORTS) — The Orlando Magic have been named the recipient of the NBA Team International Strategy Award for the second consecutive year, recognizing the organization’s innovative global marketing efforts as part of the NBA’s 2025-26 Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards.

The award honors NBA teams that develop data-driven international marketing strategies that strengthen brand recognition, create meaningful partnerships and expand fan engagement outside the United States.

Germany Strategy Drives Award-Winning Campaign

Building on last year’s success, the Magic expanded their presence in Germany through a year-long strategy surrounding The NBA Berlin Game 2026.

Rather than focusing solely on the international exhibition, Orlando created a comprehensive campaign that included:

  • A summer promotional tour across Germany
  • Magic Kiez, an immersive fan experience hub
  • Youth basketball clinics
  • Business networking summits
  • Community watch parties
  • Interactive fan activations
  • Corporate partnership events

The organization said the strategy helped establish a sustained presence before, during and after the Berlin game while strengthening relationships with German basketball fans and business leaders.

New International Partnerships

The campaign also expanded the Magic’s International Team Marketing Program (ITMP) through collaborations with several new international and global partners, including:

  • AIDA Cruises
  • Domino’s
  • Kellogg’s
  • Telekom
  • ThreatLocker
  • Visit Orlando

The partnerships supported both fan engagement initiatives and business development opportunities throughout Germany.

NBA Recognizes Innovation Across the League

The NBA’s annual Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards celebrate organizations that demonstrate excellence in fan engagement, sponsorship activation, innovation, community impact and ticket sales.

This year’s major award winners included:

AwardWinner
International Strategy AwardOrlando Magic
Partnership of the YearCleveland Cavaliers
Partnership Innovation AwardLA Clippers
Social Impact & Inclusion AwardPhiladelphia 76ers
New Sales CampaignDetroit Pistons
Membership Program of the YearCharlotte Hornets
Premium Experience of the YearCleveland Cavaliers

The Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans also received recognition through the NBA’s AI Studio program for innovative applications of artificial intelligence to improve fan experiences.

NBA Executive Applauds Team Innovation

Jonathan Tillman, the NBA’s Executive Vice President and Head of Team Marketing and Business Operations, praised the league’s clubs for continuing to innovate.

“The innovation, creativity and strategic thinking NBA teams demonstrate every day continue to raise the bar for the sports industry while creating deeper connections with fans in their communities and around the world,” Tillman said.

He added that NBA teams are finding new ways to grow their businesses through strategic partnerships, artificial intelligence, ticket sales innovations and community engagement.

Selection Process

All 30 NBA franchises were invited to submit entries for the Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards.

Winners were selected by a committee of NBA league and team executives based on creativity, measurable business results and overall impact.

For the second consecutive season, the Orlando Magic’s international strategy stood out among the league’s entries, highlighting the franchise’s continued commitment to expanding its global brand while strengthening relationships with fans and partners overseas.

Award Highlights

  • Orlando Magic won the NBA Team International Strategy Award for the second straight year.
  • The award recognized the franchise’s comprehensive marketing strategy surrounding The NBA Berlin Game 2026.
  • The campaign featured fan engagement, youth clinics, business summits and year-round activations across Germany.
  • New international partners included AIDA Cruises, Domino’s, Kellogg’s, Telekom, ThreatLocker and Visit Orlando.
  • All 30 NBA teams were eligible, with winners selected by NBA and team executives.

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Central Florida News

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Announce Training Camp Roster Moves Ahead of 53-Man Cutdown

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TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced a series of roster moves Tuesday as the team continues preparations for the 2026 NFL season.

The Buccaneers waived safety Ja’Qurious Conley with a non-football injury designation.

In addition, Tampa Bay placed cornerback Chase Lucas and defensive lineman Haggai Ndubuisi on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List.

Players placed on the Active/PUP List count toward the club’s 90-player offseason roster and remain eligible to return to practice at any point before the NFL’s deadline to reduce rosters to the regular-season 53-player limit.

The moves come as the Buccaneers continue evaluating their roster during training camp in preparation for the upcoming preseason schedule and the start of the regular season.

What the Moves Mean

A player waived with a non-football injury (NFI) designation has sustained an injury or medical condition that did not occur during NFL football activities. If Conley clears waivers, the Buccaneers’ next steps will depend on league rules and his injury status.

The Active/PUP List is reserved for players who are unable to practice because of football-related injuries at the start of training camp. While on the Active/PUP List, Lucas and Ndubuisi may participate in team meetings and receive medical treatment, and they can be activated at any time before the team’s final roster reduction.

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Sports

Jaguars Place Two Offensive Linemen on Active/PUP List Ahead of Training Camp

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Jacksonville Jaguars announced Sunday that offensive linemen Garrett DiGiorgio and Cole Van Lanen have been placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as the team continues preparations for training camp.

Players on the Active/PUP list count against the 90-man offseason roster but are unable to participate in practice until they are medically cleared. Once cleared, they may return to practice at any time during training camp.

The Jaguars did not disclose the nature of the injuries or provide a timetable for either player’s return.

DiGiorgio and Van Lanen are among the offensive line depth pieces competing for roster spots as Jacksonville prepares for the 2026 NFL season. Their availability during training camp could impact competition along the offensive front as coaches evaluate the roster ahead of preseason play.

The Jaguars continue training camp preparations with veterans and rookies working toward the start of the 2026 season.

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