The Magic just found their spark again, but Monday night brings a bigger puzzle to Orlando. After a 121-114 win over Toronto on Oct. 30, the Magic will host a Wizards team that held Charlotte to 79 points that same night. As of Oct. 31, Washington stands at 3-3 and Orlando is 2-3. One club wants to prove its new mix can win now, while the other is trying to build on last season’s hard-fought playoff run.

Orlando’s challenge starts with who is missing. Paolo Banchero, the powerful 6-foot-10 forward who can create shots and set up teammates, is out. So is guard Jalen Suggs, one of the team’s fiercest defenders. That puts more of the story in Franz Wagner’s hands. Wagner is averaging 20.8 points and seven assists, showing he can score while also steering the offense toward open teammates. He can bring the ball up the floor, slip through traffic, and use his size against smaller defenders.

Desmond Bane must help Wagner keep the defense stretched wide. Bane’s outside shot has not found its usual rhythm through five games, but he has the strength to drive past defenders who rush at him. Orlando needs that kind of attack because its 17 turnovers per game have given opponents too many extra chances. The Magic must play with care, especially against a Washington group that can turn one loose pass into a fast break.

Washington arrives with a different kind of engine. Trae Young averages 10.2 assists, which means he creates baskets for teammates all over the court. His quick passes can pull defenders away from Anthony Davis, the Wizards’ towering frontcourt leader. Davis is averaging 22.3 points and 9.2 rebounds, and his presence near the rim could be a major problem for an Orlando team missing Banchero’s size.

The Wizards also have Alex Sarr, a young center who brings length around the basket. Washington averages 42 rebounds, more than Orlando’s 39.4, so the Magic cannot allow Davis and Sarr to collect missed shots for second chances. Orlando’s bigs, including Wendell Carter Jr. and reserve Nikola Vucevic, will need strong box-outs, using their bodies to keep rebounders away from the ball.

This game also spotlights Washington’s exciting new direction. Rookie forward AJ Dybantsa has the size and athletic tools to add another dangerous option beside Young and Davis. Yet the Wizards’ outside shooting has been shaky at 29.3 percent from three-point range. Orlando can make life harder by protecting the paint and challenging those long shots.

The Magic have the home floor and a recent win to build on, but Washington has been steadier with the ball and stronger on the glass. With Young creating openings and Davis controlling the middle, the Wizards look better prepared to handle Orlando’s injuries. Prediction: Washington wins.

Anthony Davis and Franz Wagner Set the Tone in Orlando