Orlando Magic Surge in Second Half, Eye Top Six

0:00You're listening to NBA News today. Subscribe now for fast daily updates on your team. The Orlando Magic started the second half of the season strong with a 3-in-1 road trip out west. They came home and lost close gains to the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons, but those defeats don't overshadow their overall progress. The team sits seventh in the east, just one game back from six place. Power rankings across major sites like NBA.com and sports illustrated have the Magic Steady or even up from last week. They're holding their spot despite the recent slip, showing analysts still see potential in the squad. Experts point out those losses came against two of the league's best teams, and Orlando hung tough even without star Franz Wagner. The Magic have dominated sub-500 teams lately, going six and one since early February, which highlights their strength against easier foes. Wagner should return this month from his ankle issue, giving them a big boost for a late push. They face three softer opponents this week, including a trip to Milwaukee before

1:03easier matchups ahead. With 23 games left, mostly against play-in or lottery teams, the resilient Magic could climb into the top six. They bounce back all season from injuries and rarely lose streaks, so watch how they respond now. This episode is brought to you by our sponsor, See the episode description. A pillow that plays your podcasts, music, or white noise privately, no earbuds required. S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com.