With Jalen Suggs sidelined, rookie Jase Richardson has continued to see a larger role in the rotation. Monday marked his third straight game with extended minutes, and he finished with 11 points in 22 minutes during a lopsided loss to Golden State.
While he showed scoring ability, his night also included three turnovers, something Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel pointed out as part of the learning curve for the young guard.
Wendell Carter Jr., meanwhile, was limited to nine points against the Warriors after scoring in double figures in each of his previous four games. Even so, his overall efficiency this season has remained a bright spot.
Carter is posting career-best shooting numbers, converting 54.1 percent of his shots from the field and 42.2 percent from three-point range.
According to teammate Paolo Banchero, that production reflects exactly what the team is asking of Carter, with an emphasis on assertiveness, perimeter shooting, attacking the basket, rebounding and defensive effort.
The Magic were also without Goga Bitadze for Tuesday’s game in Portland, as he sat out the second night of a back-to-back due to a left knee strain.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley explained before the game that the injury occurred during a rebounding play, when Bitadze took a kick to the knee while going up for the ball.
Magic Notes: Banchero, Wagner, Richardson, Carter Jr., Bitadze https://t.co/uK5HnvDXnz pic.twitter.com/qjTG8MboXk
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 24, 2025
