The Magic have an exciting season ahead of them and big goals they hope to accomplish. After last season’s success, fans and players alike want to see the team take the next step and inch closer to being a true contender in the Eastern Conference. Right now, the Magic are still a tier below the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks.
Every game will matter in the 2024-25 season, as the Eastern Conference standings promise to be incredibly close. So, it is always good to keep an eye on the schedule and know when the toughest stretches and most difficult months are coming up.
The Magic’s easiest months
7. October
October marks the start of the NBA season and only five games for the Magic. Those five games are against the Heat, Nets, Grizzlies, Pacers, and Bulls. You can never count out Miami, the Pacers just went on a deep playoff run, and the Grizzlies should be much better with their big three of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane reunited.
Those three games could end up being tough, but it is still a rather conservative way to start the season, as the Magic won’t have to face any of the top-tier teams.
6. April
If the Eastern Conference standings end up being as close as everyone thinks they will be, the last few games of the season will matter a lot. Luckily for the Magic, they do not have the toughest schedule in April. Orlando will face the Wizards, Pelicans, Hawks, Celtics, and Pacers.
The Celtics are obviously a tough opponent and the Pacers could be as well. At the same time, however, the Wizards are likely tanking again, the Pelicans still have some roster issues to figure out, and the Hawks have been nothing more than mediocre in recent years.
The Magic’s tougher months
5. February
In February the Magic are playing a lot of Western Conference teams, facing off with the Jazz, Warriors, Kings, Nuggets, Spurs, and Grizzlies. For Eastern Conference competition, Orlando will meet the Hawks, Hornets, Wizards, and Cavaliers.
This group includes only one projected contender—even though the Grizzlies could find themselves at the top of the Western Conference if they play as they did before all the drama—and some of the worst teams in the league. No one is expecting the Jazz, Hornets, and Wizards to make much noise next season. At the same time, the Warriors, Kings, Grizzlies, and Cavaliers could cause the Magic some trouble, though.
4. March
March should be a rather well-balanced month for the Magic. They will face some contenders when they match up against the Bucks, Timberwolves, and Mavericks as well as some solid teams in the Cavaliers, Lakers, and Kings. At the same time, the Magic will also face plenty of beatable teams, however, as they are set to play the Raptors, Rockets, Bulls, Wizards, Hornets, Spurs, and Clippers.
While a lot of those games look easy on paper, the Magic will have to make sure to take care of business and win the games they are supposed to win. It could end up being the difference between having homecourt advantage and going to an opponent's arena or between securing a playoff spot in the regular season and having to go through the Play-In Tournament.
The Magic’s most difficult months
3. November
After a rather relaxed start to the season in October, the Magic will have to face their first big challenges in November. They will be facing off with the Mavericks, the Thunder, the 76ers, and the Suns. That is one of the projected contenders in the East and three teams that could finish high in the Western Conference standings.
On top of that, the Magic will also have to play the Cavaliers, Pacers, and Lakers. Luckily, games against the Pistons, Hornets, Wizards, and Nets will soften the blow.
2. December
December is an incredibly tough month already and we don’t even know which games will be added due to the NBA Cup yet. In December, the Magic will have a chance to prove themselves against top-tier competition. They will have to face the Knicks, 76ers, and Heat twice each as well as the Suns, Thunder, and Celtics.
Five straight games will be against some of the best teams in the league—nine if you count the Miami Heat as a real threat in the Eastern Conference. December won’t be easy and depending on which games are eventually added to the schedule, it could easily slide into first place.
1. January
January will be a crucial test for the Magic. Just as in December, the Magic will have to face several of the top teams in the league. They will be playing the Knicks, Timberwolves, Bucks, 76ers, Celtics, and Nuggets in seven consecutive games. That is seven games against teams that currently look like legitimate contenders. The Nuggets had a bad offseason but we should never count out Nikola Jokic.
Surrounding that stretch are games against the Pistons, Raptors, Jazz, Trail Blazers, and Heat. On paper, only the Heat and maybe the Raptors sound like a real threat to the Magic. Toronto just shipped out Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby last season but they now have an interesting group of young talent. They will likely give the Magic a challenge, especially after playing contenders for seven straight games.
No matter who you consider a real threat, the Magic cannot afford to drop any of the games against non-contenders in January.
