Live from Phoenix, Arizona. The Magic win their first game of this three-game West road trip. Orlando’s win streak extends to 6 consecutive victories. The Magic are continuing to adjusting to not having Paolo Banchero by continuing to suffocate opponents with stellar defense. Franz Wagner fresh off his first NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week award once again had over 30 points. Anthony Black dropped a season-high 20 points. The Suns didn’t have Durant, Beal, or Nurkic, and no one could stop Goga Bitadze in the paint. The Magic are 9-6 and still the third seed in the East.

It was a great game to witness while sitting courtside. First Magic win in Phoenix since 2018.

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language

141. Dispatch From Phoenix: Magic Sixth Straight Win Sets Suns

Live from Los Angeles, California. The Magic’s streak of six consecutive victories ended in Los Angeles at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers inside the Intuit Dome. Orlando is now 9-7 and face the second night of a back-to-back against the Lakers. What it was like inside Intuit Dome, and how way too many Magic players didn’t perform well enough. 

All of that and more!


#LetsGoMagic 


Warning: Adult Language

142. Dispatch From Los Angeles: Magic Get Clipped

The Magic swept their two-game weekend series in Brooklyn. Pops was at the win on Sunday inside Barclays Center against the Nets. Franz Wagner is not only a strong favorite to be named an NBA All-Star for the first time, but he’s playing at an All-NBA level with Paolo Banchero out. Orlando is 15-7, still third place in the East, winners of six consecutive games and 12 of the team’s last thirteen contests. 
The Magic are the hottest team in the NBA, and are also 3-0 in NBA Cup East Group A play with a big fourth and final group decider occurring Tuesday inside Madison Square Garden against a very challenging New York Knicks opponent. The Knicks have to win or they’re eliminated from the cup.

If by chance you hear snoring in the background, that would be Argos the tired goldendoodle. He’s enjoying the cold northeast weather.

All of that and more!


#LetsGoMagic 


Warning: Adult Language

143. Dispatch From Brooklyn: Magic Own Barclays Center; 15-7 Record

Franz Wagner tried, but the Orlando Magic went from down forty to losing 121-106 at Madison Square Garden to the New York Knicks to finish off NBA cup group play. The Knicks win East Group A with a 4-0 record. Magic at 3-1 sneak into the fourth and final East quarterfinal spot as the wild card thanks to their great point differential in the prior three contests. Orlando will have to fly up next week to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. 

Despite the disappointing performance on TNT at MSG, the Magic are still 15-8 and the 3rd seed in the conference. It’s still great to enjoy a game in a basketball cathedral such as MSG. Lights, food, buzz, energy, music, celebrities.


All of that and more!


#LetsGoMagic 


Warning: Adult Language

144. Dispatch from Madison Square Garden: NBA Cup Wild Card for Magic as Knicks Take East Group A

The Magic lost their first home game of the season at the hands of the New York Knicks. That would make a fun playoff series. Orlando is now 17-11 and 10-1 at home. The Magic are at Kia Center for the rest of December. But with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner out with torn right oblique rehabs/injuries, Jalen Suggs is the #1 option. The team needs to find reliable guys who can step in and provide consistent production.

They already pulled off one big win over the Suns, and the Magic almost pulled off another in Milwaukee but lost in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. A Westcourt entertainment complex update.

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language

145. Home for the Holidays; Obliques; Magic 17-11

Your now 18-12 Orlando Magic are still 4th in the East and pulled off the gutsiest and greatest regular season win in Kia Center’s history. That building has been open since October 2010, and has never seen a better undermanned win like that since the Heart N Hustle season. No Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, or Jalen Suggs. Orlando’s top 3 players. No Gary Harris. Lost Mo Wagner in the first quarter, and he may be done for the season if he needs a knee procedure. Wendell Carter Jr. gets ejected in the second period. The Magic were without their best four scorers and still beat Miami in a Pat Williams era throwback comeback win.

The 121-114 win tied the biggest comeback in franchise history (you have to go back to November 1989). Cut it to within 10 in the third, then trailed by 22 entering the fourth quarter. The 22-point start of the fourth quarter deficit is tied for the 7th largest comeback victory in NBA history. Cole Anthony had the first 35/5/5 game in less than 30 minutes in team history. Not having Mo Wagner the rest of the season is rough to navigate big picture wise, but for now this is a glorious win over our in-state rival.

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language

146. Heat Get Gifted Cole for Christmas; Magic 18-12

With no Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. With Mo Wagner out the rest of the season. With no Anthony Black. With Jalen Suggs departing in the first half with a wrist injury, the Orlando Magic found a way to complete yet another 20-point comeback beat the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. It’s a season series sweep for Orlando. The Magic end the 2024 calendar year with a 20-14 record. Orlando enters 2025 still as the East’s 4th seed. It’s the first time since the 2010-2011 season where the Magic enter January with at least twenty victories. 

Jamahl Mosley deserves to win Coach of the Month for December (it goes beyond the 6-7 win-loss record). Tristan da Silva deserves to be Rookie of the Month. It’s probably the happiest the fan base will be going 3-4 in a seven-game homestand. 2025 New Year’s resolutions are being assigned to the team.

All of that and more!


#LetsGoMagic 


Warning: Adult Language

147. Comeback By Committee; 20-14 Magic; New Year’s Resolutions for 2025

This episode is dedicated to ZDF’s ‘Wagner Brothers’ German language four-part 3-hour documentary on Franz and Moritz Wagner. Their parents Beate and Axel play a major role, as well as the brothers’ additional support system. It’s a brilliant production that puts a lot American sports and NBA documentaries to shame. It’s uncensored and you see plenty of raw emotion and feelings displayed.

Most the content focuses on 2023 and 2024, including the German national team winning the 2023 FIBA World Cup, a return to Michigan, and the grind of the 2023-2024 Orlando Magic season that included a playoff meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers. As well as Germany’s 2024 Summer Olympics showing in Paris, France. This is a Wagner family focused documentary, not entirely Orlando Magic focused. 

Here’s the link to the documentary: https://www.zdf.de/sport/the-wagner-brothers 

Speaking of the Magic, Orlando is currently 21-16. They’ve had a rocky start to January 2025 with more injuries plaguing players like Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black. The team just had a very disappointing home loss to the Utah Jazz. It feels like the Magic have reached their limit and truly need bodies returning. Thankfully, a Paolo Banchero return isn’t far away.

All of that and more!


#LetsGoMagic 


Warning: Adult Language

148. Reviewing the Wagner Brothers Documentary; Magic 21-16

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

The 24-24 Orlando Magic have been battered and bruised in January and are just now getting bodies back. Franz Wagner, Goga Bitadze, and Jalen Suggs (if he can avoid picking up new injuries) in particular. The Magic are the 7th seed in the East currently, but should look to make at least one transaction by the February 6th trade deadline. Why Jeff Weltman will do something now and the advantages of not waiting for the summer to consolidate and improve the team. 

Plus, Tristan da Silva and Mac McClung are going to All-Star Weekend. The NBA rearranged 3 future Magic games. 

All of that and more!

#LetsGoMagic 

Warning: Adult Language

150. Franz and Friends Return; Time for Trades; Magic 24-24

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. 

*Warning* Episodes may and probably do contain profanity.

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

Penny & Pops Podcast - Orlando Magic Basketball