The Osceola Magic advanced to the NBA G League Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 119-117 win over the Long Island Nets on April 1 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla. The Magic improved to 1-0, while the Long Island Nets fell to 0-1.
Colin Castleton led Osceola with 25 points and 11 rebounds in his playoff debut for the Magic. Castleton recorded his eighth consecutive double-double, while Javonte Smart scored 21 points off the bench. Alex Morales added 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, and Reece Beekman finished with 11 points and 12 assists.
Long Island Nets two-way player E.J. Liddell scored a game-high 32 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field. Malachi Smith scored 29 points for the Nets, and Chaney Johnson added 22 points.
Osceola rallies after first-quarter deficit
The Long Island Nets led 38-21 after the first quarter before the Osceola Magic responded in the second period. Osceola shot 63.6 percent from the field in the quarter and held Long Island to 23.1 percent shooting. The Magic took a 65-60 lead into halftime.
Osceola led by seven points with 11 seconds remaining, but Long Island mounted one final push. After Tyson Etienne drew a foul on a 3-point attempt, he made two free throws and intentionally missed the third. Smith grabbed the offensive rebound and made a corner 3-pointer to cut the Magic lead to two points.
Lester Quiñones then missed two free throws, giving the Long Island Nets a chance with six seconds remaining. Smith’s potential game-winning shot hit off the backboard, allowing the Osceola Magic to secure the win and advance.
Osceola Magic host Motor City Cruise in semifinal
The Osceola Magic will host the Motor City Cruise on Friday, April 3, at Osceola Heritage Park in the NBA G League Eastern Conference Semifinals. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and the game can be seen on ESPNU.
Head coach Dylan Murphy credited the team’s collective effort after the game. Murphy said associate head coach Johnny Taylor told him to put Smart back into the game late, when Smart made a corner 3-pointer.
“I think the great part about our group is we have a different five closing every night. We never know who it’s going to be. It’s who’s got it going. With two minutes left in the game, [associate head coach] Johnny Taylor comes to me and says, ‘We have to get Javonte [Smart] back in here.’ We [substituted] Javonte in and he hits the corner three. It’s just a group effort. It’s everybody from coaches, staff, front office and athletic trainers. We need everybody and that’s how our group works.”
— Dylan Murphy
The Osceola Magic are based in Kissimmee, Fla., and are the NBA G League affiliate of the Orlando Magic. The Magic were 2025 Eastern Conference champions and won the 2021 NBA G League Championship.
Source: Original report