Magic drop third in a row to open road trip at Suns

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on Nov 5, 2026

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Speaking prior to Thursday’s road game at Phoenix, Magic coach Sean Sweeney specifically mentioned he wanted to see better organization from his team on both ends of the floor when it opened a four-game road trip against the Suns.

Facing the team with worst defensive rating in the NBA entering Thursday night (124.5 per NBA.com), Orlando failed to take care of the ball, knock down its free throws and slow down Suns star Devin Booker.

Despite playing on the second night of a back-to-back after falling to the Trail Blazers on Wednesday night, the Suns set the tone early and cruised to a 117-104 victory inside Mortgage Matchup Center versus a Magic team that was anything but organized.

Booker, who went into the game averaging 24.7 points per point, posted 23 points in the first half. He finished with 30 points and eight assists.

For Orlando (2-6), the loss is the team’s third in a row and sixth of the season when failing to hold an opponent to under 100 points. For Phoenix (2-5), the win snaps a four-game losing streak.

The Magic, still without Paolo Banchero (right high ankle sprain) and Jalen Suggs (right knee bone bruise), continue their four-game road trip at Golden State on Saturday night at Chase Center.

Too many turnovers

All five Orlando starters — Jase Richardson, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. — committed two or more turnovers throughout the first three quarters.

The Magic were often indecisive with the ball as they made poor passes and sometimes just dribbled the ball away. Phoenix pressured Orlando’s ballhandlers, but a lot of the Magic’s mistakes were their own fault.

Black was responsible for five turnovers while Wagner committed six despite recording a career-high 15 assists. Richardson and Tristan da Silva each turned the ball over three times and Bane twice. Even Carter, who recorded 27 points and 13 rebounds, committed three turnovers.

And Phoenix made the Magic pay for it, too.

The Suns, who turned the ball over 15 times, scored 36 points off 25 Orlando turnovers, which marked a season-high. It also marked the third time in eight games Orlando committed at least 20 turnovers.

Missed chances

The Magic were sent to the free-throw line 20 times in the first half alone. They missed nine of those attempts to trail by 12 points, 63-51, at the break.

Wagner alone missed three free throws while Bane and Black each missed one and reserve center Goga Bitadze missed four.

The Suns converted their first 10 free throws and finished 10 for 13 at the line.

Long-range woes

Orlando didn’t just struggle at the free-throw line on Thursday night. It also failed to shoot accurately from beyond the arc.

Bane opened 1 for 5 from distance while Jamal Cain and da Silva each started 1 for 3 from 3 in the first half.

With Bane ending 3 for 9 from 3 and da Silva 4 for 12, the Magic ended the night shooting 13 for 38 from 3-point range (34%) while allowing the Suns to shoot 50% from distance (17 for 34).

In addition to Booker’s four 3-pointers, Phoenix’s Dillon Brooks (24 points), Miles Bridges (18) and Luke Kennard (12) each made at least three triples.