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ORLANDO – With more time on the court, Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. has begun to show why he has been pivotal to the young team’s success in the last two seasons.

 

Carter Jr. set a season-high with 18 points in the Magic’s 106-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on a Dejounte Murray buzzer-beater on Wednesday at the State Farm Arena. On Monday, the Magic center matched his previous season-high of 17 points in their 98-94 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Wendell Carter Jr. (34) and Franz Wagner (22).
Wendell Carter Jr. (34) and Franz Wagner (22).

Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Carter Jr. credits his recent offensive success since returning from a knee injury to being around his teammates and doing what is necessary to help the team.

“It feels good just to be back out there,” Carter Jr. said. “Fortunately, I found a groove offensively, but just to be out there with my teammates [and] just doing whatever I can to help this team win. Fortunately, it has been scoring. I’ve taken a lot of steps in just getting my swagger back from last year. These last two or three games, I’ve started to get my swagger back.”

Carter Jr. is one of many players on the Magic (22-19) who have been bitten by the injury bug this season. He has missed 26 games this season due to a broken left hand and right knee tendinitis. Carter Jr.’s knee injury led to him missing five straight games before returning on Monday vs. the Knicks.

At the midway point of the season, Orlando finds itself in a much different position compared to years past. The Magic are currently in the playoff picture, a far cry compared to where they’ve been in the last four years after 41 games.

Carter. Jr. noted that the Magic playing in close games as they did against the Knicks and Hawks will prepare them for the playoff stretch, though, there are still areas they have to improve at, including shooting free throws.

Orlando shot 16 of 22 from the free throw line compared to Atlanta (17-23) shooting 20 of 22 from the line.

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“The fact that we’re in these games, it’s getting us prepared,” Carter Jr. said. “We went 72 percent from the line as a team. We can’t do that when we make it to the playoffs and we’re in those moments, free throws matter, the amount of turnovers matter [and] offensive decisions matter [and] defensive decisions matter. Every little decision matters. I’m kind of happy that we’re in these situations early on so when we get to those games in the playoffs when it really matters, we’ll be prepared.”

The Magic return home on Friday after a four-game road trip to face the Philadelphia 76ers (26-13) at 7 p.m. ET at the Kia Center.