There are no moral victories in the NBA, but the Orlando Magic as a squad should hold their heads high despite their 114-109 road loss in the franchise’s first trip to the elimination round of the Emirates NBA Cup.

The Magic were pondering optimism leading up to this game. Franchise forward Paolo Banchero was showing steady signs of recovery from his right oblique injury, Orlando had just beaten the Philadephia 76ers on the road on December 4th for the second win overall against them on the season, and wingman Franz Wagner was continuing to light up the scoreboard for what would the second of three straight games with 30 or more points (his eighth with 20 or more).

That’s when disaster struck for the Magic. Not only did they lose to Philly in the next game 102-94 two nights later, they lost Wagner indefinitely with Banchero’s same injury in a game where he scored 30 or more points for the third straight contest.

The Magic’s first night down both Wagner and Banchero was parlayed into a victory over the Phoenix Suns at home Sunday, 115-110. Big man Goga Bitadza dropped a double-double for 21 points and a team-leading 16 rebounds while also posted a team-high four assists. However, it was point guard Jalen Suggs who was Orlando’s highest scorer with 26.

Suggs and Bitadze were the highest scorers among starters Tuesday posting 32 and 12 points respectively as Mo Wagner poured in 13 and Anthony Black dropped 17 off the bench. While scoring contributions came from all over the lineup, missing as much size as the Magic were including Banchero and Jonathon Issac, Bitadze, Wagner, and Wendell Carter Jr. struggled to slow the Buck’s franchise forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. His 37 points were accompanied by Damian Lilliard’s 28 and Bobby Portis dropping 22 off the bench.

Despite those performances by the Buck’s headliners, Orlando had a chance to tie the game at 110 with nine seconds remaining in regulation, but Suggs’ attempt beyond the arc hit the rim.

After the game, Suggs had nothing but pride for his squad. “We fought, played hard, we withstood runs, withstood adversity, and for that, I’m proud of every man up and down the roster.”

The silver lining in the NBA Cup elimination is that Orlando gets a few deserved days of rest until December 15th when they will either host the New York Knicks or travel to Atlanta to face the Hawks depending on the outcome of their Cup Game Wednesday night.