The Orlando Magic face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2026-27 NBA Regular Season on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. (19:00 local venue time), with live coverage in the United States on WRDQ (TV 27), NBA League Pass, DAZN, and Fubo.
This matchup marks the second game of the regular season for both franchises. The Minnesota Timberwolves enter the contest with a 1-0 record after defeating the Miami Heat 131-106 on the road in their season opener on Wednesday (21). The Orlando Magic hold a 0-1 record following a 132-125 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on the same day. In the previous 2025-26 campaign, the Orlando Magic won both head-to-head matchups against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Where to watch Orlando Magic vs Minnesota Timberwolves live
Fans in the United States can watch the game between the Orlando Magic and the Minnesota Timberwolves across four broadcast and digital platforms:
- WRDQ (TV 27): over-the-air television
- NBA League Pass: pay-per-view
- DAZN: streaming
- Fubo: streaming
Start time and venue for Orlando Magic vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Check the confirmed schedule and location details for the regular season game:
- Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
- Time: 7 p.m. (19:00 local time at the venue)
- Venue: Kia Center, in Orlando, Florida
- Competition and stage: NBA (North American basketball league) — Regular Season
Read also: Orlando Magic vs Atlanta Hawks: where to watch live and start time (NBA, Oct 21)
How the Orlando Magic arrive for the game
The Orlando Magic are led by head coach Sean Sweeney, who was hired on June 1, 2026, to replace Jamahl Mosley as the 16th head coach in franchise history. In the opening-night 132-125 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks, the team committed 20 turnovers and converted 13 of 40 three-point attempts. Power forward Paolo Banchero led the starters with 35 points on 10-of-12 shooting, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds. Small forward Franz Wagner recorded 22 points and 5 assists in 29 minutes, while starting center Wendell Carter Jr. also scored 22 points alongside fellow starters Jalen Suggs (point guard) and Desmond Bane (shooting guard).
Following the opener, Sweeney evaluated the team’s performance on both ends of the floor. “In stretches, we did some good things on both sides of the ball, and in stretches we did some things that we really have to clean up. I think there were a lot of teachable moments and a lot of corrections we can make in terms of defensively, some of our principles and scheme stuff,” said Sean Sweeney, head coach of the Orlando Magic.
For the 2026-27 roster, the franchise also signed center Nikola Vučević, small forward Malaki Branham, and point guard JD Davison, with Vučević serving as the immediate backup to Wendell Carter Jr. On the injury report, the Orlando Magic have three confirmed absences: point guard Anthony Black misses his second straight game with a right ankle sprain, Noah Penda is out with a hamstring injury, and Izaiyah Nelson is sidelined with an ankle injury. Power forward Jonathan Isaac missed the debut due to a knee injury and remains listed as questionable against Minnesota.
How the Minnesota Timberwolves arrive for the game
Commanded by head coach Chris Finch, the Minnesota Timberwolves reshaped their roster before the season by trading away Julius Randle and Naz Reid and acquiring point guard LaMelo Ball to pair with shooting guard Anthony Edwards in the backcourt. In the 131-106 opening victory over the Miami Heat, Minnesota made 21 of 50 three-point shots and won the rebounding battle 52 to 34, including a 17 to 4 advantage on the offensive glass.
Anthony Edwards led the team in the debut with 45 points, shooting 16 of 29 from the field and hitting 9 three-pointers, while adding 10 rebounds. Making his franchise debut, LaMelo Ball posted 21 points and 6 assists. Starting small forward Jaden McDaniels contributed 17 points and 8 rebounds, and starting center Rudy Gobert collected 15 rebounds. The fifth starter alongside Ball, Edwards, McDaniels, and Gobert was not named in the pre-game reports, and the head coach is expected to finalize the starting five prior to tip-off.
After the win in Miami, Edwards spoke about integrating his new backcourt partner into the offense. “We need him to be ultra aggressive at all times because every team knows that he can pass the ball. If they know you can pass, they’re expecting a pass. So we need him to go score. That’s why we always give him the ball,” said Anthony Edwards, shooting guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On the medical report, shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo remains out with an Achilles tendon injury and is the only player listed as unavailable for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Read also: NBA Preseason: Chicago Bulls face Minnesota Timberwolves at United Center in final tune-up game
Officiating and head-to-head history for Orlando Magic vs Minnesota Timberwolves
The officiating crew for the game between the Orlando Magic and the Minnesota Timberwolves has not yet been announced, as the NBA releases its official referee assignments only hours before tip-off in its daily report.
In the previous 2025-26 season, the Orlando Magic swept the two-game regular-season series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Orlando finished that campaign with a 45-37 record before falling to the Detroit Pistons in seven games in the first round of the playoffs after holding a 3-1 series lead. Minnesota finished the 2025-26 regular season at 49-33 and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for the third consecutive year.
