Magic overpower Jazz to finish 2-2 on West Coast trip
Published in Basketball
Utilizing their seventh different starting lineup through the team’s first 11 games, the Magic had 10 players available against the Utah Jazz in the second game of a back-to-back on Wednesday night.
That didn’t slow down Franz Wagner (38 points), Desmond Bane (25) and Anthony Black (22) during Orlando‘s 123-108 victory in its lone trip of the season to the Delta Center.
With both teams playing on the second night of a back-to-back, it was coach Sean Sweeney’s squad that took control of the contest in the fourth quarter, outscoring Utah 38-21 across the final 12 minutes and ending the game on a 25-10 run.
The Magic were without Paolo Banchero (right high ankle sprain), Jalen Suggs (right knee bone bruise), Tristan da Silva (left calf strain), Jamal Cain (left shoulder contusion), Noah Penda (partially torn right hamstring), Jonathan Isaac (left knee injury management) and rookie Izaiyah Nelson (left ankle injury recovery).
With the 15-point win, Orlando finished its four-game West Coast road trip 2-2 and earned its fourth win of the season.
The loss was the 10th in a row for Utah (1-11), which had five scorers finish in double figures, including No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson (20 points).
Winners of consecutive games for the first time this season, the Magic (4-7) return home when they host the Bucks in an NBA Cup game inside Kia Center on Friday night.
Wagner’s way
Wagner scored 19 points in the first half and didn’t slow down.
The German forward shot 8 for 12 in the paint, 2 for 3 in the midrange and 3 for 8 from distance. He also shot 9 for 10 at the free-throw line less than 24 hours after making all 10 of his free-throw attempts at Sacramento.
His 38 points tied a career high and marked his third consecutive game with 30-plus points. He previously scored 38 points twice in his career (Dec. 28, 2021 vs. Milwaukee and Feb. 4, 2024 vs. Detroit).
Although he only recorded one assist after entering the game averaging 8.6, Wagner grabbed eight rebounds while the Jazz had little to no response for his downhill drives to the basket.
Second-quarter response
The Magic trailed the Jazz 34-29 at the end of the first quarter but responded well in the second quarter.
Orlando shot 13 for 23, outscoring Utah by 12 points, 37-25, across the frame. The Jazz shot 7 for 20 from the floor, including 2 for 9 from 3-point range.
The Jazz at one point went over six minutes without making a shot from the floor. Meanwhile, Wagner scored 13 of his 19 first-half points in the second quarter.
Anthony’s activity
Black added seven rebounds and eight assists in 39 minutes.
The fourth-year guard was aggressive, getting to the free-throw line where he shot 7 for 9. It marked his third game this season scoring 20-plus points.
Familiar face
A member of the Magic from 2018-23, former first-round pick Mo Bamba appeared in his eighth game this season for Utah.
The 7-foot center recorded five points, one rebound and one assist in 18 minutes off the bench. Bamba has played with six teams since he left Orlando: the Lakers, 76ers, Clippers, Pelicans, Raptors and Jazz.
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