Home Basketball Franz Wagner scores 26, leads Magic over Lakers 120-101

Franz Wagner scores 26, leads Magic over Lakers 120-101

Basketball — 11/05/2023

Franz Wagner scored 26 points, Paolo Banchero added 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds and the Orlando Magic blasted the Los Angeles Lakers 120-101 on Saturday night.

Orlando Magic guard Joe Ingles looks to pass the ball during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.

Rookie Anthony Black got his first start for the Magic. Goga Bitadze started at center for Orlando and finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

Wagner scored 16 points in the first half and Banchero added 15 points and five assists in leading the Magic to a 67-51 lead at the break.

Anthony Davis had 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks for the Lakers. LeBron James finished with 24 points and nine rebounds and Austin Reaves scored 20 points.

Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.

Davis, who averaged a league-leading 40.2 minutes in the Lakers’ first five games, was called for his fourth foul when Banchero drove for a power dunk just 1:25 into the third period

Banchero scored five points and Black added a three-point play on a 9-0 Orlando run, and Cole Anthony’s 3-pointer stretched the lead to 99-74 before the end of the third quarter.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James brings the ball up during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.

The Lakers trimmed the lead to 13 on a pair of Davis free throws, but Anthony answered with a 3-pointer to regain a 16-point lead for Orlando with 4:04 left.

Coming five days after the Lakers’ 106-103 win over the Magic in Los Angeles, the victory broke Orlando’s seven-game losing streak against the Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) and Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) vie for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.

Both teams are battling injuries. Orlando played without guards Markelle Fultz (knee) and Gary Harris (groin) and center Wendell Carter Jr. (finger).

The Lakers used an eight-man rotation for a second straight game until emptying their bench in the final four minutes. They played without injured Rui Hachimura (concussion protocol), Taurean Prince (knee), Gabe Vincent (knee), Jalen Hood-Schifino (knee) and Jarred Vanderbilt (knee).