Orlando Magic forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner (22) have fun after a play in the course of the second half of an NBA basketball sport in opposition to the Washington Wizards, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photograph/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON — Franz Wagner had 28 factors, 9 assists, and eight rebounds, rookie Anthony Black scored a career-high 23 factors and the Orlando Magic defeated the Washington Wizards 127-119 within the NBA on Tuesday night time.
“We’re taking part in good ball proper now, and I’m simply making an attempt to deal with that, truthfully,” Black mentioned. “It’s going to come back game-by-game, getting extra snug. So I’m simply making an attempt to maintain doing issues that’s serving to us win.”
Paolo Banchero overcame a gradual begin to end with 24 factors and eight assists and Jalen Suggs returned from a two-game absence attributable to a left wrist harm to attain 11.
“He seemed good. His conditioning was on level, he was on the market defending the proper means, crawling into the basketball, making an attempt to do a number of the proper issues,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned of Suggs. “Having a few video games off, there wasn’t as a lot rust as we’d thought there’d be.”
Jordan Poole had 30 factors to guide the Wizards, who’ve misplaced 4 of their final 5, and Tyus Jones added 22.
Trailing by as many as eight, Washington’s bench got here up with 12 factors within the first quarter, and a 14-4 run tied issues at 33 after one.
Orlando Magic ahead Paolo Banchero (5) shoots over Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) in the course of the second half of an NBA basketball sport, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photograph/Alex Brandon)
The Magic went on a 7-0 run to take a 45-38 lead within the second quarter and power Washington to name timeout with 6:44 left within the half.
The Wizards’ Corey Kispert got here off the bench and began the sport 6 of 6 together with 3 of three on 3-pointers for 15 first-half factors as Washington fought again from down 9 to path 63-60 on the half.
The Magic led by as many as 9 a number of instances within the third earlier than Banchero hit a left-handed layup for the final shot of the third quarter to present Orlando a 98-88 lead.
Washington trailed by as many as 17 within the fourth quarter, however an 11-0 run capped by Jones’ 3-pointer made it 117-111 with 3:10 remaining. Poole hit a pair of free throws with 2:02 remaining to chop the deficit to 4 and did so once more on a dunk with just below a minute to play, however that’s the closest Washington bought.
“It’s the togetherness that now we have, our poise, our communication,” Wagner mentioned. “We now have guys that like taking part in with one another and for one another and I feel that exhibits within the final couple of minutes when stuff isn’t going our means that we come collectively and sort of discover our groove once more.”
The Magic had 70 factors within the paint and triggered 21 turnovers. They’ve gained the primary three video games of a four-game common season sequence with the Wizards.
“Total, I feel schematically we did the proper issues,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. mentioned. “Clear up on a few these turnovers and a number of the transition alternatives and paint factors, I feel it’s a unique ballgame.”
Daniel Gafford had 13 factors and 13 rebounds whereas Kyle Kuzma had 17 for the Wizards. Nevertheless, he was solely 6 of 18 from the sector whereas accounting for six turnovers.
“I simply didn’t play nicely,” Kuzma mentioned. “If I might have discovered extra of a rhythm, we in all probability would have gained as a result of all people else performed nicely.”
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Wizards: Host Toronto on Wednesday night time.