Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley addressed his team’s performance after a 126-109 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in London on Sunday, the NBA’s first regular-season game in the city since 2019. He said, “We didn’t start out the right way. Similar to the last game… the lead got so far ahead, we couldn’t crawl our way back into this one. Our sense of urgency to start the game… they come out strong and fast in that first quarter.”
Mosley credited Memphis for their early dominance, explaining, “You got to give Memphis a ton of credit for the way they sparked that first quarter, and from there it was just an uphill battle.”
He also reflected on the value of the European trip despite the loss, noting, “Absolutely. There are things that we’re going to have to correct and clean up… The things that trended in the two games were our starts… the experience of being in front of all the media, having the attention, knowing how to have a routine night in and night out… that’s going to be very important and beneficial down the stretch for the rest of the season.”
Mosley praised Wendell Carter Jr. for keeping the Magic competitive in the second quarter, saying, “It was big time for us. His ability to knock shots down, rebound the basketball, create outlets for guys, extra possessions… He just stays consistent in his effort and his energy. He definitely kept us afloat and in that push back in that second quarter.”
On Ja Morant’s performance, Mosley remarked, “He had 20 and 10 at halftime… His speed, his intensity, his energy level… the way he impacts the game, just his energy and enthusiasm, the way he plays changes it for his teammates as well as the energy of the crowd… Our ability to stay in front of him was tough tonight.”
Mosley praised the London crowd, stating, “The crowd was fantastic… Great NBA fans, great basketball fans… They stayed engaged with the team, the support, the noise… London has been fantastic, welcomed us with open arms and treated our guys so special.”
Reflecting on the trip and the team’s development, he said, “It’s a beautiful thing to play the same team twice because you can see the things they’re going to do, the adjustments that they made, similar to playoff basketball… All those things are big pieces as you move forward and what we need to learn to get used to. It’s growth for a team.”
Orlando, seventh in the Eastern Conference at 23-19, struggled from three-point range, hitting just 10 of 33 attempts. The Magic return home to face the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, while Memphis, 18-23, hosts the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
