Orlando Magic's bench ready to pick up the slack, keep the standard

The Orlando Magic have extolled their bench all season. With injuries decimating the roster, their reserves have to be ready to pick up the slack.

Jett Howard does not like feeling pressure. He is a pretty laid-back guy and before games, he wants to clear his mind and not feel the urgency of the moment.

The injury to Franz Wagner has opened the door for opportunity for a lot of players on this team right now. Everyone knows it and everyone is eager for it.

But when his mom called him before Sunday's game telling him he would finally get a clearer shot at playing time to show what he can do, he told her to stop and ended the conversation about the game. He does not want to feel tense before tip-off.

Howard knows what he is capable of and what he can do.

Howard delivered with six points on 2-for-4 shooting, perhaps most impressively doing it without making a three-pointer (he only attempted one in 14:54 of game action). Howard added two steals.

At this juncture, the Magic need everyone on the roster to contribute to help fill in the gaps left by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner's absences. Players who have been out of the rotation will be expected to contribute now. It will take the whole team to fill in for those two star players.

Everyone has a part to play.