By Preston Ellis

In case you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve missed the surge being taken by the league’s afterthought in the southeast region.

Having missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons, the Orlando Magic hold prime position in the eastern conference with a 12-13 record (7th), and the league’s third-easiest remaining strength of schedule.

It’s been the All-Star play of Nikola Vucevic, the First-Team All-NBA Defense of Aaron Gordon, and the marksmen-like shooting of sixth man of the year candidate, Terrence Ross.

The Magic don’t beat themselves in 2018-19. With just 13.6 turnovers (third) to 26.2 assists (sixth), the Magic carry the league’s second-best assist to turnover ratio, and they limit the most efficient shots to their opponents, holding opponents to 46 points in the paint per game (7th).

The Magic have proven their mettle against the Spurs, the Celtics, the 76ers and the Lakers (twice), and fell just short after holding substantial leads to the Pistons, Warriors and Blazers.

Wednesday night, they went toe to toe with the West’s best, and NBA’s best (17-7) in the Denver Nuggets.

True, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic blitzed the Magic in the pick-and-roll, were beaten badly on the boards (11), in the paint (56), sacrificing too-good-to-be-true looks all night (54%).

It’s also true the Magic responded to every uppercut with a haymaker of their own.

When the Nuggets took an early 19-8 lead, Aaron Gordon responded with 13 consecutive points to tighten the gap. Back and forth the two would go through the second and third quarters, gaining a six-point advantage late, 81-75 behind 11 straight points from Augustin and Vucevic.

Early in the fourth, the Nuggets would respond with their own six-point advantage behind Trey Lyles and Malik Beasley, 95-89, before Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross would stiff-arm the 12-point swing with 17 of the Magic’s last 19 points, including the game-tying three from Ross.

The story of the night became the free-throw scarcity that almost achieved the Magic their very own NBA record, being held without an attempt through 9:13 of the fourth. Players were noticeably subjected as Evan Fournier took one of the Magic’s two technicals with him on his way through the tunnel after committing his sixth foul.

“It’s the same thing every day, man. Every day we come in and see that we’re 30th in free throw attempts, [and] nothing changes. We’re one of the teams that never complains, [and] every time we say something, we get a technical. It’s just terrible. I think tonight it was 33-to-6 [free throw discrepancy]. Numbers talk, man.”

– Evan Fournier (as recorded by Zach Oliver of OrlandoPinstripedPost.com)

“It’s horrible. Feels like the refs are more worried about what’s on the front of the jersey than watching the actual game.” – Aaron Gordon

Sure, you could call this frustration. Conquering the West’s best at the height of their powers could wield a shifting twist of momentum to a team poised to take the next step towards relevancy.

And yet, this kick in the teeth couldn’t possibly come at a better time.

Amidst the frustration comes unanimity, and breeds solidarity. The Orlando Magic are playing the same brand of basketball, they’re buying in to head coach Steve Clifford’s message, and they’re nearly finishing each other’s sentences.

“THERE’S DEFINITELY A BELIEF THAT WE HAVE A GOOD ENOUGH TEAM, A TALENTED ENOUGH TEAM TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS- AND NOT JUST MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, BUT WIN IN THE PLAYOFFS.” – DJ AUGUSTIN

“WE’RE A DIFFERENT TEAM THAN LAST YEAR. I TRUST THIS TEAM. WE’VE HAD A TOUGH SCHEDULE. I’M PRETTY CONFIDENT TO BE HONEST.” – EVAN FOURNIER

”I WANT US AS A TEAM TO GROW TO THE PLACE WHERE WE EXPECT TO BEAT THE BEST TEAMS IN THIS LEAGUE. BECAUSE WE WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THIS LEAGUE WHEN WE PUT IT TOGETHER.“ – JONATHAN ISAAC

And now comes time to prove they’re different. The performances against the West’s best are nice for selling points, but should the Magic really make headway, they’ll need to look above them in the eastern conference at the 14-10 Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers are everything the Magic aspire to be. The league’s best defense (102.1 per game, third in defensive rating), they limit two-point shooting better than anyone (48%), and enter the 2018-19 season fresh off the near dismantling of the Lebron-led Cleveland Cavaliers.

And yet, search the schedule for a defining victory for the Indiana Pacers in 2018-19. Outside of the opening night victory over the 14-9 Memphis Grizzlies, the Pacers have yet to defeat a team above .500. The Magic on the other hand, have done it four times.

Check the tape. I’ve been preaching the Magic’s rise since my first article here at BBall Index, and I’ve never been surer. The Orlando Magic have a winnable slate after the Pacers in the Mavericks, Jazz, Spurs, Bulls (twice), Heat, Suns and Hornets. Eight of the Magic’s next ten games will be played at the Amway Center, giving the Magic the push they need heading into the New Year.

It’s just one game, but the Pacers come to Amway as a walking representation of the Magic’s since forgotten nightmares of lost superstardom in Tobias Harris, Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

The Amway Assemblage will instead, watch as the Magic squash those irrational memories and go head-to-head with their direct antagonist in the eastern conference standings.

The Magic’s rebuild is at an end, and their rise into the 2018-19 playoff picture could become downright imminent as soon as Friday night.

For more on the Magic’ upcoming matchup with the Indiana Pacers, check out our podcast, “Do You Believe in Magic,” featuring Tony East of BBall-Index and Locked on Pacers. Subscribe today!

Listen to “Game Preview: Magic v Pacers with Locked on Pacers’ Tony East” on Spreaker.