Paolo Banchero leads Magic in victory over Wizards

Paolo Banchero scored 37 points as the Orlando Magic defeated the visiting Washington Wizards 126-109 on Tuesday.

Banchero hit a sizzling 15 of 21 from the floor and also dished six assists as Orlando snapped a two-game home skid.

Desmond Bane chipped in with 25, shooting 7 of 10 from the field and 8 of 8 from the foul line.

Will Riley posted 19 points for the Wizards, who suffered their sixth successive loss.

Jaden Hardy added 18 off the bench, while Sharife Cooper contributed 16 points, after shaking off a left knee scare when he collided with Goga Bitadze in the second quarter.

Banchero had 13 points in the opening frame, the Magic's chief beneficiary of some errant Washington ball-handling, the Wizards coughing up five turnovers for the quarter which cost them 11 points.

Orlando jumped to an early 19-7 lead, which Washington scaled back to 27-24 at the end of the period on two free throws from Cooper, who was injudiciously fouled by Jase Richardson while heaving a 3-point attempt with 0.7 seconds left.

Hardy stuck a trey with 10:15 remaining in the second frame to put the Wizards in front for the first time. He had a team-best 13 points at halftime. The Magic quickly recaptured the lead, which they hung onto, 57-54 at the main break.

Banchero had 18 points for the half, while Bane, who was scoreless without a shot attempt in the first period, scored 14 in the second. Orlando assumed complete control with a 12-2 start to the third quarter.

Banchero added 13 for the period, and the Magic, who went 1 of 13 from 3-point range in the first half, hit all five attempts from deep in the third. The Magic dominated the quarter 40-27 to move ahead 97-81 with one to play.

Jevon Carter nailed two threes and Bane followed with another to start the fourth frame as the gap ballooned to 106-81.

--Field Level Media