ORLANDO, Fla. — Markelle Fultz’s return during the Orlando Magic’s 119-103 Monday home win over the Indiana Pacers not only provided him with the chance to step back on the floor for the first time in over a year, it also helped the team’s outlook become clearer.
Fultz’s comeback from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that he sustained on Jan. 6, 2021 gave the former No. 1 pick the opportunity to play with teammates he hadn’t been on the floor with before Monday because he was sidelined.
Those teammates include Gary Harris, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and R.J. Hampton — all of whom joined the team after Fultz’s injury.
“It’s kind of crazy. It’s almost like I’m a fan of these guys,” Fultz said ahead of Monday’s game. “I’ve watched so many games of them playing. Being able to go out there and play with such a new group of guys — I’m super excited for one, for them to get experience to play with me.
“I feel like my playmaking ability will be able to get those guys more open and find those guys. And for me to use their ability to screen, cut and pass. I’m excited to see what the future’s like.”
Fultz was on the floor with most of his “new” teammates (Harris, Carter and Hampton) en route to recording 10 points (5-of-7 shooting), 6 assists and 2 rebounds in 16 minutes.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said ahead of Monday’s matchup that Fultz would be limited to 16-20 minutes while adding, “We’re just going to keep looking at how he feels as he goes throughout the game.”
Carter finished with team-highs of 21 points (8 of 10) and 12 rebounds for his 27th double-double. He was averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds on 56.5% shooting over his last 15 games entering Monday.
Mo Bamba had a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double while Suggs finished with 14 points and tied his career-high with 10 assists. Eight Magic players finished with 10-plus points. The victory was the third time Orlando has won consecutive games after Friday’s victory over the Houston Rockets.
Indiana was led by Tyrese Haliburton’s 23 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.
The Magic have had to evaluate most of the season — and their rebuild — without seeing how Fultz, one of their highest-paid players, would fit next to several teammates.
While they’ll still be without a few key players for the foreseeable future — Jonathan Isaac (recovery from torn left ACL in August 2020), Moe Wagner (left rib contusion) and Bol Bol (recovery from January right foot surgery) — Monday was another crucial step in seeing how multiple important parts of Orlando’s roster fit together.
“It’s going to be an ongoing process,” Mosley said. “Understanding different lineups and what they look like. It’s going to be, for these final 21 [games], being able to look at that as we go through and understand what combinations work well together.”
The Magic will play the Pacers again Wednesday at Amway Center.
