Down two starters, the Orlando Magic got here up brief in Sunday’s matchup vs. the Blazers, falling to Portland 122-119 at Amway Heart.
The duo of Paolo Banchero (26 factors, 5 rebounds and a pair of assists) and Franz Wagner (24 factors and 6 assists) mixed for 50 factors within the loss, which continued Orlando’s streak of “win one, lose one” that dates to Feb. 5.
The Magic (27-38) had been coming off a 117-106 Friday highway win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Every Magic starter scored in double figures, however it wasn’t sufficient to beat Damian Lillard’s 41 factors (17-of-20 on free throws), 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
4 different Portland gamers scored in double figures, together with former Orlando Christian Prep star Nassir Little (11 factors, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), who hit the go-ahead 3 to provide Portland a 116-113 lead with 35 seconds remaining.
Wagner made a pair of free throws to trim the deficit to 116-115 with 32.2 seconds remaining earlier than Lillard made 2 free throws to place the Blazers up 118-115 with 11.4 seconds remaining.
The Blazers (30-34) gained the free-throw battle down the stretch to clinch the victory. They fouled the Magic every time Orlando was down 3 within the halfcourt to forestall them from taking a 3-point shot.
Banchero missed a 46-foot heave earlier than the ultimate buzzer.
The Magic shot the ball properly (50% from the sphere, 35.5% on 3s), however their free-throw capturing (24 of 31 for 77.4%) harm them.
The Blazers made 87.5% (28 of 32) of their free throws. Portland’s rebounding benefit (46 to 38) additionally gave the Blazers an edge. That they had 9 offensive rebounds to the Magic’s 6, giving them an 11-5 benefit on second-chance factors.
Beginning guard Gary Harris (sore left adductor) and massive man Wendell Carter Jr. (left hip ache) weren’t out there.
Harris’s standing was questionable getting into the matchup.
Second-year guard Jalen Suggs (15 factors, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a pair of assists) began in his place alongside Banchero, Markelle Fultz (15 factors, 8 assists and 5 rebounds), Franz Wagner and Moe Wagner.
“Being out for therefore many video games, him coming again and getting acclimated to what we’re doing, he’s been nice,” coach Jamahl Mosley stated pregame. “Defensively, in the beginning, the second he steps within the sport he makes a direct affect.”
Moe Wagner (15 factors, 7 rebounds) began rather than Carter, who was dominated out a little bit over an hour earlier than tipoff.
Franz Wagner was out there and performed 33 minutes regardless of spraining his ankle two nights in the past.
He’s missed simply three video games due to harm since being the No. 8 choose within the 2021 draft, all of which got here final 12 months due to a sprained proper ankle.
The lone sport he sat for this season was due to the suspensions a number of gamers got after the Dec. 28 altercation between the Magic and Pistons in Detroit.
Sunday kicked off a four-game homestand, with matchups towards the Milwaukee Bucks (Tuesday), Utah Jazz (Thursday) and Miami Warmth (Saturday) forward.
“It’s nice,” Mosley stated of the homestand. “Getting again to that routine. Having the ability to get some practices beneath our belt, these guys proceed to get higher and develop with each other.”
This text first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. E-mail Khobi Value at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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