After an embarrassing loss on Sunday, the Orlando Magic found a way to respond.
ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic responded to a franchise-record loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday by defeating the Phoenix Suns at home on Tuesday, 115-111. Here is how it happened:
A 70-Point First Half
After Tuesday morning’s shootaround, Magic guard Jalen Suggs stressed the importance of getting winning results while simultaneously continuing to improve and do the right things on the floor.
For the most part, Orlando’s offense was able to execute.
The Magic walked into the locker room at half time with a 70-56 lead and three players in double figures: Suggs with a team-high 13 points, Wendell Carter Jr. with 11 points and Desmond Bane with 10 points.
Orlando was also able to overcome 12 turnovers by knocking down 52.25% of its field goal attempts and 40% of its 3-point attempts through the first two periods.
Surviving a Scare
It wouldn’t take long for the Magic’s double-digit lead to fall apart under the weight of Phoenix’s offense; namely the effort of Devin Booker.
Booker scored 14 points, and the Suns outscored the Magic 38-26 to tie the game by the end of the third quarter.
Bane’s Clutch Shot and Banchero’s Defense
As both teams were trading punches down the stretch, Banchero seized the moment to wall off Booker from driving in the paint on multiple possessions.
Afterward, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley praised Banchero’s attention to the defensive task at hand.
“I thought it was big,” Mosley said. “They were calling him up because that's what you do to guys in moments because he's got a heavy burden offensively, and then that's what they're going to try to do, to go at him defensively.
So, he sat down and guarded,” Mosley added. “We were able to stay home to take away the three in those last moments, and that's a big part of the execution in holding them to 17 down the stretch. I think that energy that he brings, again, as well as the energy of our crowd tonight, I thought was really important for us to be able to get the job done.”
While clinging to a 3-point lead with seven seconds remaining, Bane drove toward the baseline and put up a 10-foot floater that found the bottom of the net as he fell out of bounds. Even though Booker would hit a 3-pointer on the other end, The Magic would hold on to win.
“It was huge,” Mosley said about Bane’s shot. “I mean, he made a ton of winning plays. I mean, it wasn't always pretty what we did, but our guys' ability to bounce back and respond the right way, that's what we asked for, that's what we asked them to do, and that's the competitive spirit that these guys showed tonight.”
Six Double Figure Scorers
Despite giving up 25 turnovers, the Magic saw six scorers reach double figures.
Desmond Bane led the charge with 21 points, Jalen Suggs scored 20, Paolo Banchero added 19 points and Wendell Carter Jr. scored 15 points to round out the starting lineup. Off the bench, Jamal Cain and Jett Howard each scored 12 points.
“I thought the bench came in and gave us a lift,” Bane said. "I mean, Jamal Cain came in and played great defensively; made some shots. Moe Wagner didn't play long, but I thought when he was in there, he gave us a good spark.
"You know, that's how the game goes. You know, sometimes it's the starters, sometimes it's the bench. You know what I'm saying? But it's a collective effort, and, you know, I'm just glad we got the win.”
The Magic will return to action against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
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