ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic exhibited a strong performance on Sunday night, defeating the Washington Wizards 110-90, powered by impressive contributions from Franz Wagner and Anthony Black, who each netted 23 points. Paolo Banchero also made a significant impact, contributing 19 points to the victory.
Black particularly shone in the second half, scoring 18 of his career-high 23 points during that period. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole managed to score 16 points, while Richaun Holmes recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Unfortunately for Washington, this loss marks their sixth consecutive defeat, bringing their season record to a disappointing 9-47.
In terms of takeaways from the game, the Wizards faced additional challenges as both Alex Sarr and Khris Middleton were sidelined due to ankle injuries, adding to their extensive list of injured players. Despite this, they maintained the lead for much of the first half, though their defense fell short at the start of the second half. On the other hand, the Magic sought to bounce back after a narrow loss to Memphis just two nights prior and needed this win as part of a seven-game homestand, with tougher competitors like Cleveland and Golden State approaching.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Wendell Carter Jr. and Wagner each scored seven points during an impressive 22-6 run within the first five minutes of the second half, shifting the lead from just two points to a dominating 18-point advantage.
Notably, while Orlando has struggled in 3-point shooting, they turned the tide in this game by making 9 of 22 attempts from beyond the arc in the second half, amassing a total of 61 points during that period.
Looking ahead, the Wizards will face the Brooklyn Nets at home on Monday night, while the Magic will host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
