Jamal Mosley highlights Tyus Jones’ value beyond scoring in Nets win

The The Orlando Magic secured their third straight win on Friday nightbeating the Brooklyn Nets 105–98 in their second game NBA Cup matchup. While Orlando got a big contribution in goals from Franz Wagner and Tristan da Silva, the head coach Jamahl Mosley pointed to the influence of the veteran guard Tyus Jones — despite Jones finishing scoreless in the win.

Mosley stressed that Jones’ value exceeds his total scorenoting the importance of the guard’s decision-making and consistency in orchestrating the second unit.

“What I liked about Tyus tonight was that he was able to manage that second unit for the most part,” Mosley said. “It doesn’t have to be about scoring every time. It has to be about making the right play … it’s a winning play. Whether it’s 2, 10, 0, he’s trying to find ways to help this team win, and that experience and that leadership for our team will be very important as we go forward.”

Jones logged 13 minutes, attempted two shots and finished with three steals, two assists and one rebound. Although his offensive numbers are still well below his career averages, Mosley reiterated the guard’s reliability and understanding of the flow of the game as critical components of Orlando’s bench structure.

Jamal Mosley points out that Tyus Jones’ leadership was key in the Magic’s NBA Cup victory over the Nets

The 29-year-old signed a one-year minimum deal with the Magic during the offseason. Through 13 games, he’s averaging 1.5 points and 1.4 assists while shooting 29% from the field and 11.8% from three – career lows. Last season with the Phoenix Suns, Jones played a significantly larger role, averaging 10.2 points, 5.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 81 games, including 58 starts.

Offensively, the The magic was carried by Wagner, who scored 25 pointssix rebounds and five assists on 7-for-17 shooting in 37 minutes. Da Silva added 22 points and nine rebounds while hitting five of his nine three-point attempts, continuing his recent streak of efficient play.

The The Magic overcame 19 turnovers while holding Brooklyn to 16 points in the fourth quarter, relying on defensive execution to make up for a lackluster offensive performance.

With the win, Orlando improved to 7–6, climbing above .500 for the first time since opening night against the Miami Heat. The team now travels for a short game against the Houston Rockets (8–3) on Sunday at 7:00 PM ET before returning home on Tuesday to begin a three-game homestand against the Golden State Warriors (8–6).