CHICAGO – The Orlando Magic’s first priority is always to protect their floor. Throughout last season and this one, that’s exactly what they did.

The Magic were one of the best home teams in the NBA last year, winning 29 of 41 regular season games and all three playoff games at the Kia Center. Playing outside was a different story,

Orlando’s 18-23 road record was the worst of any Eastern Conference playoff qualifier a year ago. During their seven-game series with the Cavaliers, the Magic lost all four games in Cleveland.

In 2024-25, the Magic look to better position themselves for April and May by playing better away from October to March. After splitting two road games in the first week of the season, 3-1 Orlando begins a five-city swing in Chicago on Wednesday night.

“I think we need to approach the game with a positive mindset,” forward Paolo Banchero said Monday night. “We have some good teams that we’re about to face. We have a chance to prove ourselves a little bit, five games in a row on the road.”

“The energy changes are so different on the road than at home,” center Moritz Wagner said Wednesday. “I think even though we’ve had a pretty good start so far, I think there are a lot of mistakes that we need to correct (in) our game, and this is another opportunity to do that. “

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley stressed the need to start the road trip “the right way” during Wednesday’s shootaround at the United Center. Orlando’s players first need to understand how the Bulls plan to play them. Mosley called the United Center a tough environment to play in, and with Cleveland, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Indiana to follow, the road ahead doesn’t get any easier.

Competition around the NBA is growing, Mosley said. Although the season is only a week long, trends have started to circulate around the league. Teams want to avoid facing the Magic’s half-court defense. For other teams, they can look at the way Memphis and Indiana transitioned with varying levels of success against Orlando in back-to-back outings as a formula for their own matchups with the Magic.

It’s up to the Magic to adapt to these quick moments.

“There’s definitely (more) parity in the league,” Mosley said. “Even a team like Chicago is making 47 threes per game, playing faster, that’s what’s really visible across the league. Guys are getting more threes, playing at a higher pace and (more) intense, looking to push the basketball before defenses are set up. That’s something we need to continue to be aware of.”

Through past experiences together, Magic players understand what they’re aiming for: to leave a bigger mark on the league with their success and see the attention follow.

Taking on the Bulls at home, Orlando looks to get going once they start hitting the tarmac more often.

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