Magic fall to Blazers despite Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner combining for 50 points

Down two starters, the Orlando Magic came up short in Sunday’s matchup vs. the Blazers, falling to Portland 122-119 at Amway Center.

The duo of Paolo Banchero (26 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists) and Franz Wagner (24 points and 6 assists) combined for 50 points in the loss, which continued Orlando’s streak of “win one, lose one” that dates to Feb. 5.

The Magic (27-38) were coming off a 117-106 Friday road win over the Charlotte Hornets.

Each Magic starter scored in double figures, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Damian Lillard’s 41 points (17-of-20 on free throws), 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

Four other Portland players scored in double figures, including former Orlando Christian Prep star Nassir Little (11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), who hit the go-ahead 3 to give 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 before Lillard made 2 free throws to put the Blazers up 118-115 with 11.4 seconds remaining.

The Blazers (30-34) won the free-throw battle down the stretch to clinch the victory. They fouled the Magic whenever Orlando was down 3 in the halfcourt to prevent them from taking a 3-point shot.

Banchero missed a 46-foot heave before the final buzzer.

The Magic shot the ball well (50% from the field, 35.5% on 3s), but their free-throw shooting (24 of 31 for 77.4%) hurt them.

The Blazers made 87.5% (28 of 32) of their free throws. Portland’s rebounding advantage (46 to 38) also gave the Blazers an edge. They had 9 offensive rebounds to the Magic’s 6, giving them an 11-5 advantage on second-chance points.

Starting guard Gary Harris (sore left adductor) and big man Wendell Carter Jr. (left hip pain) weren’t available.

Harris’s status was questionable entering the matchup.

Second-year guard Jalen Suggs (15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists) started in his place alongside Banchero, Markelle Fultz (15 points, 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 said pregame. “Defensively, first and foremost, the moment he steps in the game he makes an immediate impact.”

Moe Wagner (15 points, 7 rebounds) started in place of Carter, who was ruled out a little over an hour before tipoff.

Franz Wagner was available and played 33 minutes despite spraining his ankle two nights ago.

He’s missed just three games because of injury since being the No. 8 pick in the 2021 draft, all of which came last year because of a sprained right ankle.

The lone game he sat for this season was because of the suspensions multiple players were given after the Dec. 28 altercation between the Magic and Pistons in Detroit.

Sunday kicked off a four-game homestand, with matchups against the Milwaukee Bucks (Tuesday), Utah Jazz (Thursday) and Miami Heat (Saturday) ahead.

“It’s great,” Mosley said 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 follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.

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