Before the Orlando Magic’s 113-108 Saturday road win over the Los Angeles Clippers, coach Jamahl Mosley addressed the “small pieces” of Markelle Fultz’s game that “go unnoticed.”

“His level of communication with his teammates, getting guys in the right position. Constantly playing with a sense of joy for the game. Those are the little things he provides this team,” Mosley said.

“The pace in which we’re playing has changed because of how he pushes the basketball.”

Fultz (career-high 28 points to go with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals) displayed this throughout Saturday when it was needed, helping the Magic complete the fourth-quarter comeback to give them the first win of their four-game trip.

His 4 first-quarter steals set the tone defensively and helped the Magic score easy points in transition. The Magic finished with a season-high 14 steals.

But when he subbed in at 4:44 remaining with the Magic having a 93-91 lead after trailing 82-74, Fultz took his play to a different level.

The sixth-year guard scored 12 of his 28 points in the game’s final 4:36.

Fultz put pressure on the rim late, converting layups, getting to the free throw line or assisting his teammates for scoring opportunities like his alley-oop to Wendell Carter Jr. to give the Magic a 104-99 late lead.

“I’m so proud of this young man,” Mosley said. “He never walks in the building without a smile on his face. You see there’s such a level of joy in his heart for playing the game of basketball. That’s what shows up.

“You can take the number out, and just the way he plays the game. The way he has passion for his teammates. No matter what it takes to get a win, he’s going to try to do. That’s what so special about him and how his teammates feel about him.”

Carter …read more

Source:: The Denver Post