The Lakers seemed to be on their technique to their seventh win in a row after an Anthony Davis free throw put them up by 4 with 27.1 seconds remaining — a win that may have stored Los Angeles’ residence file good.
Then, Orlando’s Franz Wagner shortly acquired to the rim and made it a two-point sport once more. However with 20.7 seconds left on the clock, Wagner had no alternative however to foul Davis and play the free throw sport. With the prospect to place a dagger within the Magic from the road, Davis missed them each. That opened the door for Wagner yet one more time.
Ballgame. Properly, Davis missed a 15-footer, then it was ballgame. That game-winner capped off a 37-point evening from Wagner, who has been on hearth just lately and brought on the main scorer and shot-creator function in Orlando with Paolo Banchero out.
Orlando has now gained 7-of-8, selecting up this win on the second evening of a back-to-back. It’s utilizing a mixture of elite protection — third within the NBA — and sufficient scoring from Wagner and Jalen Suggs (22 towards the Lakers) to rise as much as a tie for third within the East, regardless of their star being out.
It was a troublesome loss for the Lakers, who missed 4 free throws within the ultimate minute and beat themselves in quite a lot of methods. Davis had 39 factors and 9 rebounds, LeBron James added 31 factors and 10 boards, rookie Dalton Knecht stayed sizzling with 17 factors, however the Magic protection held Austin Reaves (3-of-12 taking pictures) and others in sufficient examine to get the win. The Lakers had racked up their six straight wins towards a mushy patch of the schedule, however they get examined in among the upcoming video games, together with the Nuggets on Saturday and Oklahoma Metropolis subsequent week.
