ORLANDO, Fla. — In a thrilling finish, Ja Morant showcased his skills by scoring 10 of his total 23 points in the fourth quarter, while Jaren Jackson Jr. made a critical defensive play, blocking a driving floater from Orlando’s Paolo Banchero just before the final buzzer. This performance led the Memphis Grizzlies to a narrow 105-104 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday evening.
Desmond Bane made a significant contribution to the Grizzlies’ victory as well, finishing the game with 16 points along with seven rebounds. He secured the win by sinking a free throw with just 45.2 seconds left on the clock. Memphis faced some challenges, including two missed free throws from Santi Aldama with 10.7 seconds remaining, but ultimately, Banchero’s last attempt to score was thwarted.
On the opposite side, Franz Wagner led the Magic’s scoring effort, putting up 25 points, while Banchero managed to contribute 21 points despite a rough shooting night, going 5 for 21. Cole Anthony had 17 points, nine rebounds, and notched seven assists for Orlando, making significant contributions to the game’s overall dynamics.
Jaren Jackson Jr. also stood out, contributing 16 points along with three blocks. The Grizzlies struggled initially with their long-range shooting, missing 19 of their first 21 attempts from beyond the arc. However, they turned things around during a pivotal segment in the third quarter when GG Jackson II hit three of Memphis’ four three-pointers, helping the team execute a 19-0 run that erased a 19-point deficit.
Key takeaways from the game reveal that the Grizzlies narrowly dodged their first three-game losing streak of the season, managing to triumph despite a challenging shooting night (7-for-33 from three-point range) and several turnovers (15 total). Remarkably, they have an impressive 8-2 record in games on the second night of back-to-back matchups.
For the Magic, this contest marked their 21st appearance in the last 22 games without their guard Jalen Suggs, who is sidelined due to a left quad contusion. The team fell just short by a single point in the opening of their seven-game homestand.
A decisive moment occurred with 2:05 left on the clock when Orlando was leading by two points. A review reversed the play, turning possession over to the Grizzlies after Morant had knocked the ball away from Wagner. Just ten seconds later, Morant tied the game with a crucial field goal.
Another notable statistic was that the Magic struggled at the foul line, missing a total of 10 free throws throughout the game, with four of those being in the crucial fourth quarter.
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday evening, while the Magic will host the Washington Wizards on the same night.
