Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic shoots a free throw against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at United Center on February 13, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP
Paolo Banchero scored 22 points and Markelle Fultz and Franz Wagner added 18 points apiece to help the visiting Orlando Magic defeat the slumping Chicago Bulls 100-91 on Monday night.
Chicago matched a season-high with its fourth straight defeat despite a game-high 26 points from Zach LaVine. Orlando led by as many as 13 points.
The Bulls drew to within five on a DeMar DeRozan layup with 3:34 to go, but the Magic responded by scoring nine of the game’s final 14 points.
Fultz narrowly missed a triple-double, contributing 10 rebounds and nine assists. Wendell Carter Jr. had 15 points and seven boards for the Magic.
clutch time P5 ????
22 PTS for tha rook pic.twitter.com/Qy2oBiXytC
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 14, 2023
DeRozan followed LaVine with 19 points. Nikola Vucevic grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to go with 13 points to stretch his streak of consecutive double-doubles to nine games, the longest active stretch in the NBA.
Coby White chipped in 12 points for the Bulls.
Orlando won the season series 2-1 while avenging a 19-point home loss on Jan. 28.
Chicago entered with a sputtering offense that was unable to get back on track against the Magic.
step-back on ’em rook @Pp_doesit pic.twitter.com/dGoaiClMtJ
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 14, 2023
After scoring 283 points in their past three games before Monday — their fewest in a three-game span under coach Billy Donovan — the Bulls recorded no greater than 24 points in a quarter against the Magic. Their low was a 21-point first quarter.
Woeful 3-point shooting again proved costly for the Bulls, who finished 3-for-21 from beyond the arc. Chicago missed its first 16 attempts from deep in the game before White connected with 1:38 to play in the third quarter to draw the hosts to within 73-66.
Alex Caruso missed the game for the Bulls after re-aggravating a left-foot injury during Saturday’s loss in Cleveland. Derrick Jones Jr. left the contest with an adductor strain and did not return.
Orlando shot 46.9 percent from the floor compared to 40.7 percent for Chicago.
The Magic and Bulls have split their past six meetings.
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