PHOENIX — In an impressive performance, Franz Wagner dropped 32 points, and Anthony Black contributed 20, leading the Orlando Magic to a 109-99 victory over the struggling Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
Tyus Jones was a bright spot for Phoenix, scoring 18 points, while Devin Booker, fresh off a season-high 44-point game, added 17 to the scoreboard.
The Suns were hampered by injuries, missing three starters including Kevin Durant, who has now missed six consecutive games, as well as Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic. Unfortunately for Phoenix, their record stands at 1-5 since Durant’s absence, with four of those games resulting in losses.
The Magic were without their leading scorer, Paolo Banchero, due to an oblique injury affecting his play.
Coming out of halftime with a substantial lead of 64-48, Orlando began the third quarter strong, quickly extending their advantage to 19 points. Although the Suns tried to rally, the closest they could manage was 102-93 with just 2:35 remaining in the game.

Key Observations:
For the Magic, this victory demonstrated their ability to secure wins on the road against a formidable, albeit diminished, opponent. They have recorded 14 consecutive home victories since March 29 of the previous season, achieving five of those wins already this season. However, they struggled more away from home with a record of 3-14 during that same stretch.
On the flip side, the Suns find themselves grappling with multiple injuries as they endure a difficult phase. The bright side is that several young players are stepping up and gaining valuable experience during this challenging time. Notably, rookie Oso Ighodaro scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds, showcasing potential for the future.

Turning Points:
The game shifted in favor of Orlando just before halftime. With 2:23 left in the second quarter, the Magic were ahead 54-46 when they launched a 10-2 scoring spree, which allowed them to take a 64-48 lead going into intermission.

Stat Highlight:
Notably, Orlando has recorded an impressive defensive performance in their last six games, managing to hold their opponents under 100 points in all of those matchups; in three instances, they limited foes to below 90 points.

Looking Ahead:
The Suns are set to host the New York Knicks on Wednesday, while the Magic will take to the road to face the Los Angeles Clippers on the same day.