Washington: In a thrilling Tuesday night matchup, the Orlando Magic showcased a remarkable team effort, clinching a 127-119 victory against the Washington Wizards. Franz Wagner led the charge with an impressive performance, contributing 28 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. The rookie sensation, Anthony Black, also stepped up, scoring a career-high 23 points, while Paolo Banchero overcame a slow start to finish with 24 points and eight assists. The return of Jalen Suggs from a two-game absence due to a left wrist injury added further depth to the Magic’s lineup, as he chipped in with 11 points.
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Reflecting on the team’s success, Black expressed, “We’re playing good ball right now, and I’m just trying to focus on that, honestly. It’s going to come game-by-game, getting more comfortable. So I’m just trying to keep doing things that are helping us win.”
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Suggs’ return was marked by a commendable performance, earning praise from Magic coach Jamahl Mosley: “He looked good. His conditioning was on point, he was out there defending the right way, crawling into the basketball, trying to do a lot of the right things. Having a couple of games off, there wasn’t as much rust as we’d thought there’d be.”
Jordan Poole led the Washington Wizards with 30 points
On the opposing side, Jordan Poole led the Washington Wizards with 30 points, supported by Tyus Jones, who added 22 points. Despite the Wizards’ efforts, they have now lost four of their last five games.
The first quarter saw Washington’s bench stepping up, contributing 12 points and orchestrating a 14-4 run to tie the game at 33. However, the Magic responded with a 7-0 run in the second quarter, establishing a 45-38 lead and forcing Washington to call a timeout.
Corey Kispert’s stellar first-half performance, going 6 of 6 and hitting 3 of 3 from beyond the arc, helped the Wizards close the gap to 63-60 at halftime.
The Magic maintained their lead throughout the third quarter, with Banchero’s left-handed layup capping off the quarter at 98-88. Despite Washington’s efforts in the fourth quarter, a 11-0 run by the Magic, highlighted by strong defensive plays and efficient scoring, secured the victory.
Wagner emphasized the team’s togetherness and resilience, stating, “It’s the togetherness that we have, our poise, our communication. We have guys that like playing with each other and for each other, and I think that shows in the last couple of minutes when stuff isn’t going our way that we come together and kind of find our groove again.”
The Magic’s dominance was evident in their ability to score 70 points in the paint and force 21 turnovers. This victory marked their third consecutive win in the four-game regular season series against the Wizards.
Washington Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. acknowledged
Washington Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. acknowledged the Magic’s effective strategy, stating, “Overall, I think schematically we did the right things. Clean up on a couple of those turnovers and some of the transition opportunities and paint points, I think it’s a different ballgame.”
Despite strong performances from Daniel Gafford and Kyle Kuzma, who contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds, and 17 points respectively, the Wizards fell short. Kuzma lamented, “I just didn’t play well. If I would have found more of a rhythm, we probably would have won because everybody else played well.”
In conclusion, the Orlando Magic’s cohesive team play, highlighted by Franz Wagner’s stellar performance, secured a well-deserved 127-119 victory over the Washington Wizards, reaffirming their strong position in the ongoing NBA season.
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