After nearly two weeks off the court, Goga Bitadze returned to action and played a pivotal role in the Orlando Magic’s 126-109 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday at the Kia Center. With starter Wendell Carter Jr. sidelined due to left ankle soreness discovered during pre-game preparations, Bitadze was thrust into the starting lineup by Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley and seized his chance.
Bitadze, the reserve center, had appeared in only three of Orlando’s last 15 games and made just one start this season prior to Tuesday. However, he logged 21 minutes against Washington—the most since his previous start on January 11 against New Orleans—and impressed with a stat line of nine points, six rebounds, two assists, and one block.
Player and Coach Praise Bitadze’s Readiness and Impact
Orlando guard Jalen Suggs praised Bitadze’s presence on the floor, emphasizing the center’s anticipation and defensive contributions.
“He’s just in the right spots, sets good screens, rolls (and) has so much gravity when he rolls. And then he’s always behind you ready to block a shot. So, shoutout to Goga (for) staying ready,”
Suggs said.
Coach Mosley also acknowledged Bitadze’s readiness and influence on the game.
“I can’t give him enough credit for being able to be called on (at) the last minute and come out and play the way that he did and impact the game,”
Mosley stated. His performance helped Orlando build a strong third quarter that effectively put the Wizards away.
Team Health Status and Upcoming Schedule
Orlando’s depth remains tested as the regular season approaches its final stretch. Both Wendell Carter Jr. and Anthony Black, who is managing a right quad contusion, were uncertain for Thursday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks but participated in shootaround. However, forward Jonathan Isaac, dealing with left knee soreness, was ruled out prior to the game.
The Magic find themselves in a tightly contested playoff picture with 21 regular-season games remaining, sitting just one game behind the No. 6 seed Philadelphia 76ers while virtually tied with the No. 8 Miami Heat. Meanwhile, the No. 9 Charlotte Hornets and No. 10 Atlanta Hawks trail by just half a game. The teams seeded seventh through tenth will compete in the Play-In Tournament for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
Following their recent four-game home stand, Orlando will face consecutive road games this weekend, starting with a Saturday afternoon matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center, followed by a Sunday night contest in Milwaukee.
Focus on Defensive Improvements as Season Winds Down
Coach Mosley highlighted the importance of defense in the team’s march toward the playoffs.
“We talk about wanting to play your best basketball in March and April, and being able to understand what we need our guys to be doing and what we need to be doing as a group,”
Mosley said after shootaround.
“And it does start with the defensive end.”
Next Game Preview
The Magic will continue their challenging schedule with a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Target Center. The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Florida and Amazon Prime Video.
