LAS VEGAS — Heading into their second Summer League, Magic second-year pros Jase Richardson and Noah Penda expressed confidence about their ability to showcase what they’ve worked on so far in the offseason following their respective rookie campaigns.
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And that’s just what the pair did Thursday night to open Summer League against the Hornets inside Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV in Las Vegas.
Penda knocked down five 3-pointers to score a team-high 23 points in 29 minutes of action while Richardson notched 15 points with four assists and two steals in 30 minutes.
Their efforts, however, weren’t enough when Orlando ran out of gas in the second half, dropping its first Summer League game by 12 points, 86-74, to Charlotte.
Led by Liam McNeeley’s 28 points, the Hornets outscored the Magic 49-31 after the break by shooting 42.9% (6 for 14) from 3-point range and holding Orlando to 29.4% (5 for 17) from distance in the same stretch.
“I thought it was a good performance by our guys, especially in the first half,” Magic Summer League coach D.J. Bakker said after the game. “The biggest thing that we talked about at halftime and then at the end of the game was just sustained energy and fight.
“But I thought we did a lot of good things in the first half,” he added. “(We) moved the ball, our talk was really good, rebounded well, spaced well (and) made some open shots, which always helps with the energy.”
Magic second-round pick Izaiyah Nelson came off the bench in his Summer League debut, recording six rebounds with a block and two points in 15 minutes.
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Elsewhere on the court, Osceola guard Lester Quinones notched 10 points, three rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes while Magic two-way forward Alex Morales added six points, four rebounds and one steal in 27 minutes.
Orlando’s Summer League squad had plenty of support in the building. Magic players spotted sitting courtside included Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Jonathan Isaac, Jevon Carter, Jamal Cain and Tristan da Silva.
“That’s huge,” Bakker said of the team support. “I think that sets the tone for our regular season. Guys making the commitment. They could be anywhere and they’re here.”
In addition, various members of the Magic front office were watching from the stands, including president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman, general manager Anthony Parker, senior advisor to the president of basketball operations John Hammond and executive vice president of basketball operations Pete D’Alessandro.
The Magic return to Cox Pavilion for a Saturday afternoon matchup against the Heat (3:30 p.m., Prime).
“This thing, to me, is about continued improvement,” Bakker said. “Win this game, lose this game, we’re here for the next 10 days. So, we’ve got to watch film, make the corrections, keep teaching, keep improving and keep coming together as a group.”
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Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]