Magic have high expectations after upgrading strong roster with addition of Desmond Bane

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — There’s a new vibe and plenty of buzz surrounding the Orlando Magic after a splashy offseason.

It’s been a while since they were considered championship contenders.

The Magic are favorites to repeat as Southeast division champions, have the third-best odds to win the Eastern Conference and are eighth-best to capture an NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

“There’s nobody outside of that locker room that should have higher expectations for ourselves than us,” fifth-year coach Jamahl Mosley said Monday. “There’s going to be a lot of people saying what we should or could do but our standard is high and what we know we’re capable of doing. It starts with our everyday work, getting better every single day. It’s the daily habits that we have to approach as a group and it’s the standard and accountability we have to hold each other to.”

After going 41-41 last season and getting eliminated by Boston in five games in the first round of the playoffs, the Magic made a major move to address scoring.

The team paid a hefty price to acquire Desmond Bane from Memphis, sending four first-round picks, a pick swap plus Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony to the Grizzlies.

Bane averaged 19.2 points last season and made 39% of his shots from 3-point range. He joins star forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to boost the offense.

The Magic also signed guard Tyus Jones in free agency. He averaged 10.2 points and shot 41.4% from 3-point range last season for Phoenix.

“The space they provide on the floor is tremendous but also their leadership, their experience, who they’ve been for each team they’ve been on provides mentorship for our young guys,” Mosley said.

The Magic were plagued by injuries last season, going without Banchero, Wagner and Jalen Suggs for long stretches. Suggs averaged 16.2 points, four rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals before he suffered a cartilage injury to his left knee in late January that required arthroscopic surgery. His goal is to return for opening night and he’s excited about teaming with Bane in the backcourt.

“I think when we get to mesh as time passes, as we continue to play, as the season evolves and goes on — I think the league, everyone that follows basketball will continue to see not only why that was one of the best acquisitions of the summer, but why me and Bane could be one of the best backcourts in the NBA because of how well versed we are,” Suggs said. “In every aspect, we either are elite or we cover for each other ... and so I’m very excited to get to hooping with him alongside everybody else.”

While offense was an issue last season, the Magic had the league’s No. 2 defensive ranking behind the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The goal is to turn those opportunities the defense creates into points.

“It’s about converting in transition when you’ve gotten the steal, when you’ve gotten the stop, and our ability to finish possessions off the right way, putting pressure on their defense by attacking early in transition and finishing,” Mosley said.

With the defending Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers facing a season without star Tyrese Haliburton and the Boston Celtics expected to be without Jayson Tatum for a significant period, the door is open for the improved Magic to make a deep run. Only the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks have better odds to win the conference.

The Magic haven’t won a playoff series since 2009-10 when they advanced to the East finals. They are 0-2 in NBA Finals in their 36-year history.

“I’ve never been more excited since I’ve been here,” Magic president Jeff Weltman said. “I feel we have a team that’s capable of accomplishing big things.”

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Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva, left, poses for a photo during the NBA basketball team's media day, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac tosses a ball during the NBA basketball team's media day, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner answers questions from reporters during the NBA basketball team's media day, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero poses for a photo during the NBA basketball team's Media Day, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Powerball drew the winning lottery numbers Monday night for a record 46th time since its last jackpot was claimed, as a string of failed sweepstakes ballooned the top prize to $1.6 billion.

The numbers selected were 3, 18, 36, 41, 54 and the Powerball 7.

So far, it's the 5th-largest jackpot in U.S. history after more than three months without a Powerball winner. The game's long odds created a massive windfall that has enticed people to splurge on $2 tickets ahead of the live drawing at 10:59 p.m. ET Monday night.

Lottery officials made the odds tougher in 2015 to create these humongous jackpots and draw more attention, while also making it easier to win smaller prizes.

Experts say it’s a sign the lottery is operating exactly as designed, and that no one should really expect to match all six numbers and make a killing. Still, somebody will likely win at some point, and many players are hoping to be that lucky winner.

“Everybody wants to be a millionaire,” said Saqi Anwer, an Atlanta gas station manager who sold $800 worth of tickets on Saturday.

Monday's estimated $1.6 billion jackpot has a cash value of $735.3 million.

That means a winner can choose to be paid the whole amount through an annuity, with an immediate payment and then annual payments over 29 years that increase by 5% each time. Winners almost always opt for the up-front cash value, however both eye-popping figures are before taxes.

The last time someone won the Powerball top prize was on Sept. 6, when players in Missouri and Texas won $1.787 billion — the second-highest jackpot in U.S. history.

Matt Strawn, who chairs the Powerball Product Group, said in an interview that nothing special predated back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots this year other than the odds of the game. Still, he said it would be magical for a winning ticket to be cashed in during the holidays.

“Imagine if someone is giving the gift of a winning Powerball ticket away, whether it’s in a stocking or a thank-you note to your mail carrier,” Strawn said.

Monday’s potential bounty now tops the existing 5th-biggest jackpot of a $1.586 billion drawn on Jan. 13, 2016.

Four other jackpots, all from the past three years, have bested the current prize. The biggest U.S. jackpot ever was $2.04 billion back in 2022.

That lotto winner bought the ticket at a Los Angeles-area gas station and opted for a lump-sum payment of $997.6 million.

In Atlanta on Sunday, players were lining up to get their tickets ahead of Monday's drawing.

“My wife encourages me to buy a ticket because she wants to go on a big trip and she wants to do something good in society,” Bob Wehner said outside a car wash. “And she thought, ‘Well, we can do both if we win, for crying out loud!’”

Ronan Farrell, a middle schooler, speculated about buying an Xbox and a Lamborghini if his family won.

“With an Xbox controller as well,” he added.

The odds of winning Monday’s jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball. Before the switch a decade ago, the odds were 1 in 175 million. Players now have a 1 in 24.9 chance overall of winning some kind of prize.

Tim Chartier, a Davidson College math professor, said he's never bought a lottery ticket despite knowing those odds inside and out.

“Picking a winning lottery ticket is equivalent to selecting one marked dollar bill from a stack 19 miles high — roughly the height of more than 115 Statues of Liberty,” or 30 kilometers, Chartier said.

“If you have the funds and you enjoy dreaming about a billionaire life, enjoy the ride. Of course, you could win,” Chartier said. “But when the numbers don’t fall your way, recognize that the odds were never in your favor — and that the twinkle of possibility is what made the journey worth the almost-certain letdown.”

Associated Press videojournalist Emilie Megnien in Atlanta contributed to this report.

Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

A billboard advertising the Powerball lottery is displayed, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

A customer fills out a Powerball lottery ticket at a convenience store in Mundelein, Ill., Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

A Powerball play slip is seen at a store Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)