Down two starters, the Orlando Magic got here up quick in Sunday’s matchup vs. the Blazers, falling to Portland 122-119 at Amway Center.
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) have been coming off a 117-106 Friday highway win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Each Magic starter scored in double figures, however it wasn’t sufficient to beat Damian Lillard’s 41 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
Four 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 present 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) received the free-throw battle down the stretch to clinch the victory. They fouled the Magic at any time when 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.
Starting guard Gary Harris (sore left adductor) and large man Wendell Carter Jr. (left hip ache) weren’t obtainable.
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 so many games, him coming back and getting acclimated to what we’re doing, he’s been great,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned pregame. “Defensively, first and foremost, the moment he steps in the game he makes an immediate impact.”
Moe Wagner (15 factors, 7 rebounds) began rather than Carter, who was dominated out slightly over an hour earlier than tipoff.
Franz Wagner was obtainable 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 recreation 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 Heat (Saturday) forward.
“It’s great,” Mosley mentioned of the homestand. “Getting back to that routine. Being able to get some practices under our belt, these guys continue to get better and grow with one another.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com