Magic mount ferocious rally, hand Wizards 16th straight loss

Field Level Media|published: Wed 6th March, 21:48 2024

Mar 6, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) looks on in the first half at Capital One Arena. credits: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Franz Wagner scored 28 points and Paolo Banchero added 25 points and 10 assists as the visiting Orlando Magic rallied from a 21-point, first-half deficit to beat Washington 119-109 on Wednesday, handing the Wizards their 16th consecutive loss.

Jalen Suggs made five 3-pointers and scored 19 points for Orlando, which has won five straight games and 14 of its past 18. Mortiz Wagner had 16 points and Cole Anthony finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.

In a game that featured 12 ties and 16 lead changes, Orlando battled back from a 12-point halftime deficit and used a 14-1 run to move ahead 107-97 with 2:16 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Washington missed 13 straight field-goal attempts before Jordan Poole made a layup with 2:09 to go. Moritz Wagner answered with a 3-pointer to help seal Orlando's comeback.

Poole scored 26 points to lead Washington, while Kyle Kuzma added 25. Deni Avdija had 14 points and Richaun Holmes scored 12 for the Wizards, whose 16-game skid matches the franchise record set in March of 2010.

The Wizards shot 58.3 percent overall in the opening quarter and led 34-23 after closing the period on a 17-5 run.

Kuzma's 3-pointer extended Washington's lead to 57-38 with 4:36 left in the first half, and the Wizards held a 65-53 advantage at intermission. Kuzma scored 17 points before the break and Poole had 16, including 14 in the second quarter.

Orlando opened the third quarter on a 19-7 run to tie the game at 72. Banchero scored 13 points in the period for the Magic, who moved ahead 84-83 after three quarters by limiting the Wizards to 18 points in the third.

Washington was without center Marvin Bagley III, who sat out due to a lower back spasm. The Wizards have lost their past six meetings against Orlando, including all four matchups this season.

Orlando played without Wendell Carter Jr. (right knee soreness), Jonathan Isaac (left knee injury maintenance) and Gary Harris (right calf injury maintenance).

—Field Level Media

Latest