WASHINGTON — On Friday night, the Orlando Magic claimed a decisive 120-105 win against the Washington Wizards, largely thanks to Paolo Banchero who scored an impressive 30 points. Alongside him, Wendell Carter Jr. contributed significantly with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Franz Wagner also added to the tally with 21 points for the Magic. As a result, Orlando, who has been alternating between wins and losses over their past seven games, tightened their grip on the Eastern Conference standings. They currently sit in eighth place, positioned 1.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks and two games ahead of the Chicago Bulls in the race for NBA play-in tournament spots.
Despite a strong showing, the Washington Wizards suffered their third consecutive loss. Alex Sarr managed to score 19 points and capture 10 rebounds, while Jordan Poole added 18 points. However, the Wizards found themselves unable to regain control after going through a brief lead in the first quarter.
In terms of takeaways, Orlando might only be on the edge of the Eastern playoff contention, but they have had outstanding success against the league’s lowest-ranked Washington Wizards. This season, they have defeated the Wizards in all three encounters, with a notable combined margin of 62 points.
For the Wizards, standout rookie Alex Sarr, who was the second overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, continued his impressive form with his ninth double-double performance. This marked the seventh double-double he has achieved since the start of 2025. Additionally, Tristan Vukcevic made a notable impact from the bench, scoring 17 points in just 21 minutes, primarily during the latter stages when both teams had mostly benched their starting lineups.
The game-defining moment arrived early in the third quarter when the Magic unleashed a 13-0 scoring surge that decisively swung the game in their favor. Key players such as Wagner, Carter, and Cory Joseph struck from beyond the arc during this critical period, and Wagner capped the run with a successful runner, extending Orlando’s lead to 88-62.
Rebounding also played a crucial role in Orlando’s victory, as they outmatched Washington on the boards 55-41. This superiority on the glass facilitated the Magic in attempting nine more field goals throughout the game.
Looking ahead, the Wizards are set to travel to New York on Saturday, while the Magic will prepare to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.