1993 Orlando Magic Theme Song

The 23-18 Orlando Magic continue to astonish and find ways to win games they have no business taking, having reached the halfway point of the 2024-2025 season. Paolo Banchero made his triumphant return, but it’s been lessened due to more teammates going down due to injury. The Magic found a way to beat the Philadelphia 76ers with only eight available bodies. And although the team still is holding onto the East’s 4th seed, one bad week could see them fall down to 9th. 

Plus, All-Star voting, Shaquille O’Neal v. Dwight Howard, Mo Wagner has his ACL surgery, the trade deadline approaching. 

All of that and more!


#LetsGoMagic 


Warning: Adult Language

149. Powered by Paolo; More Injuries; Halfway Done; Magic 23-18

Two home games. Two nights. Two victories. The Orlando Magic just won their second consecutive and 8th ever division title, claiming the Southeast crown with a 96-76 Fan Appreciation Night regular season home finale victory over the Boston Celtics. PA Announcer Paul Porter was officially honored by the team, which didn’t go great. The Magic are 40-40 and have a chance to finish his injury-plagued regular season .500 or better.

The Magic are the 7th seed and guaranteed to host the 7 v. 8 play-in game next Tuesday April 15th. The opponent won’t be known until later this week. It’ll either be the Hawks, Bulls, or Heat. 

The Denver Nuggets fired their coach and GM and are spiraling. Orlando is getting Denver’s first round pick (top-5 protected) for the upcoming 2025 Draft. Instead of that pick being in the mid-20s, it could be in the teens. Could the Magic have interest in Jamal Murray in the offseason?

The Osceola Magic are in the G-League Finals having one of the first game of the 3-game series.

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language


158. Southeast Champs; Magic 40-40

The Magic had a relaxing weekend. Their last two regular season games were meaningless, and even with guys sitting we still finished the campaign 41-41. Now it’s play-in time. The first play-in game in Magic history is happening Tuesday night 7:30 pm at Kia Center against the Atlanta Hawks. It’ll be on TNT. You win on Tuesday, you get a trip up to Boston on Easter weekend to begin a playoff series.

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner as a duo had a historic franchise season statistically. The Osceola Magic head to a Game 3 deciding meeting in the G-League Finals with the Stockton Kings on Monday. Is Shaquille O’Neal really going to help walk Dwight Howard out for his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame speech?

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language


159. Play-In Time; Magic 41-41

The Orlando Magic are a perfect 1-for-1 in their play-in tournament history, dismantling the Atlanta Hawks 120-95 at Kia Center. Defense and great supporting cast offensive contributions proved too much for the Hawks overcome. The Magic claim the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and will next ship off for Boston with Game 1 of the series happening on Easter Sunday.

On a night where Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner received extra defensive attention, Jamahl Mosley’s supporting cast really showed up. Especially the likes of Wendell Carter Jr., Anthony Black, and Cole Anthony. The Magic proved why they had the 2nd best defense in the NBA. Even managed to frustrate Trae Young so much he got thrown out.

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language


160. Magic Hammer Hawks; Boston Awaits

Our Orlando Magic-Boston Celtics series preview! Can Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner outduel Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown? How big of an advantage will Boston’s supporting cast have over Orlando’s? Can the Magic overcome math and the massively historic 3-point advantage the defending champions hold over Orlando? Will it be a sweep?

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language


161. Magic-Celtics Playoff Series Preview

The Magic lost Game 1 in Boston 103-86. The main worry came to fruition. Boston buried us with 3s and Paolo Banchero (36 points and 11 rebounds) and Franz Wagner (23 points) need other support guys to step up and hit shots. No other Magic player beyond the two stars had more than 7 points. The good news is Orlando is up for a fight, and we have Game 2 to look forward to.

Orlando’s defense was overall good enough. Jayson Tatum (17 points) and Jaylen Brown (16 points) were overall subdued. But Boston has a ton of scoring depth and Derrick White (30 points) and Payton Pritchard (19 points off the bench) picked up the slack. The Magic didn’t get to the free throw line enough, and Boston’s big strength in the second half was fast break points.
All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language


162. Celtics Take Game 1; Magic Stars Need Support

Orlando hands over Game 2 to Boston, 109-100, and trail the series 2-0 coming home. Magic blew this game. You knew the refs were going to screw you with no Jayson Tatum. Too many missed open Orlando shots. Too many missed free throws. Another wasted defensive effort because guys like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can’t hit an open 3. 

Once again, it was Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner performing…and not a lot of help from the supporting cast. 

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language


163. Magic Blow it in Boston, 0-2 Back to Orlando

Orlando is on the board. Led once again by their stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic at home scrap their way to a 95-93 Game 3 victory to make it a 1-2 series against Boston. Franz had 32 points, Paolo dropped 29. It’s the second youngest duo in NBA history to have consecutive 25-point playoff performances together. The only younger duo was Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in OKC. The Magic won this game with essentially two guys scoring. And some fantastic hustle and defense. It sets the stage for a fascinating Game 4.

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language


164. Franchero Claim Game 3; 1-2 Series

This should be even going back up to Boston, but the Magic missed way too many open shots and left the game in the refs’ hands. Celtics win Game 4 107-98. They closed the game on a 16-7 run. This game was tied 91-91. Paolo was gassed. Franz couldn’t hit an open 3. Other than Cory Joseph, no one else on the Magic really stepped up offensively. And you hand Boston a 3-1 series lead. 

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language


165. Too Many Open Missed Shots; 1-3 Back Up to Boston

Magic lose in TD Garden, 120-89. Series over. Adam Silver called Tony Brothers at halftime of this Game 5 with the Magic up 2 in Boston. Brothers tags 3 questionable fouls on Paolo Banchero, gets him out with 5 fouls, and the Celtics avalanche was on from there. Orlando loses this series 4-1. We go another year without a series win and no road playoff game victory. Similar offensive story, not a lot of help for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language


166. Silver Made the Call; Magic Lose Series 4-1

The Penny & Pops Podcast is hosted by Adam Papageorgiou (Pops) and Spenser Strode (Penny). All matters Orlando Magic basketball are discussed. The opinions expressed are local and strong. This is the longest running podcast (since 2009) dedicated to talking Orlando Magic basketball.

We are the two most knowledgeable people when it comes to Orlando Magic history that you can listen to. We aim to present unique viewpoints that you won't find in traditional media outlets. We want to bring a passionate piece of Orlando to your listening devices. 

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149. Powered by Paolo; More Injuries; Halfway Done; Magic 23-18

Penny & Pops Podcast - Orlando Magic Basketball