EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL PREVIEW: STALLING OUT THE CRUISE 

Game Information:  

Date: Friday, April 3 

Opponent: Motor City Cruise 

Venue: Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Fla. 

Time: 7 p.m. ET 

Broadcast: ESPNU 

Osceola’s Journey:   

The Osceola Magic finished the regular season 26-10 and first in the Eastern Conference for the third-straight season. In the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Magic held on for a dramatic 119-117 win over the Long Island Nets. Colin Castleton scored 25 points and pulled in 11 rebounds. Reece Beekman set a Magic franchise playoff record with 12 assists.  

Motor City’s Journey:  

The Cruise made the playoffs for the second time in franchise history after finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 22-14 record. Motor City also secured their first ever playoff victory in a 120-105 upset of the Raptors 905. Wendell Moore Jr. led the Cruise with 27 points.  

Battle of the Bigmen: Colin Castleton vs Isaac Jones 

In an era of basketball dominated by guard play and the three-point shot, the battle to watch in this Eastern Conference Semi is going to be in the paint. Both Osceola and Motor City feature a dominant bigman that is more than capable of leading their team to the promised land. 

For the Magic, its two-way player Colin Castleton. The former Florida Gator joined Osceola last season and has been a go-to player for head coach Dylan Murphy. During the Tip Off Tournament, Castleton was averaging 22.6 ppg. and 9.6 rpg. on an efficient 70.4 percent from the field. A hand injury in late November set him back, but he was able to join the team in late February. Since then, Castleton is averaging 17.6 ppg. and 11.1 rpg. while finishing the regular season with seven-straight double-doubles.  

On the other side, Motor City features two-way center Isaac Jones. The Washington State product is averaging career highs in points (22.2) and blocks (1.9) while shooting 61.6 percent from the field. In his two games against Osceola this season, Jones is averaging 26 points and 9.5 rebounds while shooting 67.9 percent from the field.  

Whichever team can dominate inside early should have the upper hand. That will open things up on the perimeter, where both teams rank inside the top 12 across the league.  

Magic Center Colin Castleton: 

“We feed off the energy. We know they [the fans] got our backs. Whenever we go on a run, we hear them pushing us and supporting us. Also, whenever we’re down, seven or eight or 10 points, they help lift us to get going on a run. I think that’s huge for the playoffs. Being able to secure the one seed, being able to have our fans behind us and going into every game know they’re going to give us confidence”  

Against the Opposition:   

Motor City Series Record: 5-5 (Home: 1-2, Away: 4-3)   

Last Matchup: Osceola 125, Motor City 119 (March 27, 2026, Wayne State Fieldhouse) 

Points: Isaac Jones (MCC) - 30 

Rebounds: Isaac Jones (MCC) - 12 

Assists: Reece Beekman (OSC) - 6