Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley appreciated the opportunity to coach against one of his former bosses in Rick Carlisle for the first time in Wednesday’s matchup at the Indiana Pacers.
He chose not to make the game about him, and instead relished the Magic pulling out a 119-118 comeback victory over the Pacers.
The Magic (12-41), who had a slow start and trailed by as many as 17 and were behind 9 with less than four minutes left, closed the game on a 20-10 run in the final 3:47 to secure their fourth win in six games.
Gary Harris had a team-high 22 points (6 of 11 on 3-pointers) and five assists off the bench. Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 19 points and 18 rebounds. Franz Wagner had 17 points (7 of 13) and four rebounds. Cole Anthony (15 points, eight assists, six rebounds) and Jalen Suggs (12 points, eight assists, four rebounds) combined for 27 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds despite struggling with their shots (8 of 31).
The Pacers (19-34) were led by Caris LeVert’s 26 points, five assists and five rebounds.
Before Wednesday’s game, Mosley reflected on being able to coach against Carlisle.
“You hope at some point this happens in your career,” Mosley said, “but I’ve always said it’s always going to be the Orlando Magic versus the Indiana Pacers. You’re glad and grateful to have this opportunity, but I’ve always looked at it as the Magic versus the Pacers.”
Mosley was an assistant coach under Carlisle with the Dallas Mavericks from 2014-21 before becoming the Magic’s coach during this past offseason.
Carlisle was the Mavericks’ head coach from 2008-21 before returning to Indiana for his second stint as the Pacers’ head coach. Mosley was in charge of the Mavericks defense and was the team’s lead assistant during his last few seasons with the organization.
“He did a great job for us in Dallas,” Carlisle said of Mosley. “I’m so pleased he finally got the opportunity to become a head coach in this league. It’s a fight to get those opportunities. I really felt he’d be perfect for this situation and I believe he is.”
Carlisle added that Mosley’s “done a wonderful job” with the rebuilding Magic, who entered Wednesday with the league’s worst record.
“I’ve seen Orlando a few times since November,” Carlisle said. “I saw the game they beat Utah at home and some other ones along the way. Even in some of the games they’re losing close, you can tell the team’s getting better. They’re combative. They compete.”
“Jamahl is a great young coach. He’s got all of the tools. He’s got the personality, knowledge and energy. He can convince guys to do the hard things and understand that doing the hard things are going to bring meaning and fulfillment in a role on a team. I’ve always felt that he was a guy players would not allow to fail because they’d like him so much as a person and coach. I see that in their team.”
Mosley reflected on what he learned the most from working under Carlisle.
“His attention to detail,” Mosley said. “The way he focused in on gameplans. He’s always done a great job of focusing in on the little things. And he’s always been so transparent with things going on with the team and within the league, and that’s helped me out so much.”
