Franz Wagner scored a season-high 26 points and Paolo Banchero collected 25 points and 10 assists to fuel the host Orlando Magic to a 120-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
Banchero made 9 of 15 shots from the floor to send Orlando to its second straight win since dropping back-to-back games to the Lakers and Clippers in Los Angeles early in the week. The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year struggled in the 106-103 loss to the Lakers, sinking just 4 of 14 shots from the floor and finishing with nine points.
Cole Anthony scored 14 points and Moritz Wagner added 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench on Saturday. Rookie Anthony Black contributed 11 points in his first career start for the Magic, who snapped a seven-game losing skid to the Lakers.
Goga Bitadze collected 10 points and 10 rebounds after being ushered into the starting lineup in place of Wendell Carter Jr. Carter is set to undergo surgery to repair a fractured finger and will be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks. Markelle Fultz (knee) and Gary Harris (groin) also sat out on Saturday.
Los Angeles’ Anthony Davis recorded 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks. LeBron James had 24 points and nine rebounds and Austin Reaves added a season-high 20 for the Lakers, who fell to 0-3 on the road this season.
Banchero got off to a fast start on Saturday, sinking all five of his attempts in the first quarter — including both shots from 3-point range. The Magic benefited from Banchero’s hot shooting and built a 39-23 lead late in the first quarter.
The Lakers countered with a 12-2 run highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers from Reaves. However, the Magic answered with a 26-10 surge to end the first half. Franz Wagner scored Orlando’s final seven points to stake his team to a 67-51 lead at intermission.
Banchero executed a crossover on James and drove into the lane before making a twisting left-handed layup early in the third quarter, drawing Davis’ fourth foul in the process. Banchero sank the ensuing foul shot and the Magic slowly extended their lead to 25 late in the third quarter and again at 107-82 early in the fourth quarter, courtesy of an alley-oop from Franz Wagner to Moritz Wagner.
The Lakers trimmed their deficit to 13 at 110-97 after a pair of free throws by Davis. They were unable to draw any closer, however.
–Field Level Media
