The Orlando Magic needed to play with out rookie ahead Paolo Banchero, their main scorer, for the primary time in Wednesday’s residence recreation vs. the Dallas Mavericks.
While his absence was felt, particularly offensively, the Magic (3-9) locked in defensively to choose up a 94-87 victory over the Mavericks (6-4) at Amway Center for the second win of their seven-game homestand.
The Mavericks’ factors have been a season-low and the fewest the Magic have held a group to this season.
“I’m so proud of these guys,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned. “They did a heck of a job sticking with the gameplan.”
With Banchero sidelined, second-year ahead Franz Wagner led the Magic with 22 factors (9-of-17 taking pictures), 6 assists and three rebounds.
He was one among 5 Magic gamers who scored at the very least 10 factors.
Orlando held Luka Dončić, who entered Wednesday averaging 36 factors, to a season-low 24 factors on 9-of-29 taking pictures to go together with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. It ended his streak of consecutive video games scoring at the very least 30 factors to start out the season at 9.
The Magic dominated Banchero out pregame due to a sprained left ankle he suffered in Monday’s 134-127 loss to the Houston Rockets at Amway Center.
“He’ll be day to day,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned of Banchero. “He’s moving around a little bit but probably more sore than anything.”
Banchero, the No. 1 decide in June’s draft, was added to the group’s night damage report Tuesday night, listed as questionable till two hours earlier than tipoff.
He rolled the ankle on a drive to the basket with 2:51 remaining in opposition to the Rockets.
Banchero completed Monday’s recreation, recording 30 factors on 8-of-16 taking pictures and 12 of 14 on free throws to go together with 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 35 minutes.
He was one among 5 Magic gamers who had performed in all 11 video games coming into Wednesday and one among three, together with Wendell Carter Jr. and Franz Wagner, to start out each matchup.
Banchero was averaging a team-high 23.5 factors, which is also essentially the most amongst rookies and twenty first amongst all gamers, to go together with 8.3 rebounds and three.6 assists in 34.6 minutes coming into Wednesday.
Two-way guard Kevon Harris additionally was dominated out due to a left rib contusion.
Cole Anthony (torn proper inner indirect), Markelle Fultz (fractured left huge toe), Gary Harris (left knee damage restoration), Jonathan Isaac (left knee damage restoration) and Moe Wagner (sprained proper midfoot) stay sidelined.
Chuma Okeke stepped into the beginning lineup alongside Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Bol Bol and Wendell Carter Jr.
“The great part about this team is they each step into a role,” Mosley mentioned. “They know when their numbers are called, they’ll be ready. You saw that the other night with Mo Bamba. You see that with what Kevon has done being able to step in. With guys being out, other guys are going to step into that role and they do it willingly.”
Wednesday’s recreation will tip off at 5:30 p.m, 1 1/2 hours sooner than initially scheduled, due to Hurricane Nicole.
To honor the lads, ladies and their households for his or her service, the Magic and L3Harris teamed up for the nineteenth consecutive season to host Seats for Soldiers Night Wednesday.
As a part of the occasion, the complete Magic group honored deceased troopers by holding their jerseys with every soldier’s identify listed on the again earlier than the National Anthem. Each participant signed the jersey that was given to the households of the troopers.
More than 2,200 energetic and retired army personnel and their households attended the sport, with L3Harris and the Magic offering two hospitality suites to the sport for Central Florida army personnel.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com