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Magic fall to Grizzlies in closing seconds

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on

Published in Basketball

ORLANDO, Fla. — On a night when the Magic and Grizzlies were each playing in the second game of a back-to-back after traveling, Memphis outlasted Orlando on the road.

Despite a combined 63 points from Franz Wagner (25), Paolo Banchero (21) and Cole Anthony (17), Orlando was unable to find a way late to stave off Memphis at Kia Center on Friday night in a 105-104 loss.

Banchero’s driving floating shot in the closing moments was blocked by Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. after Magic coach Jamahl Mosley opted to not call a timeout with 11 seconds left on the clock.

Moments prior, Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama missed two free throws to keep the score a one-point game.

Both sides led by double digits, with Orlando leading by as many as 19 in the third quarter. The contest was tied 11 times and included six lead changes.

Less than 24 hours earlier, the Magic defeated the Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta while the Grizzlies fell on the road at Indiana.

The loss was Orlando’s 11th at home this season as the group fell to 4-6 in games that fall on the second night of a back-to-back.

Friday’s contest was the first of a seven-game homestand. The Magic host the Wizards on Sunday.

What worked

Led by Wagner, the Magic did a solid job attacking the paint throughout the night.

After a two-point first quarter, Wagner found his rhythm on the offensive end when he shot 3 of 5 near the rim and pieced together a nine-point second frame.

Wagner twice connected with Wendell Carter Jr. for a pair of alley-oops in the first half. Carter notched a double-double for the second time in the past three games by way of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Anthony reached double-digit scoring for the third straight game as he totaled 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists starting again in place of the injured Jalen Suggs (left quad contusion).

What didn’t

 

Banchero played only eight minutes before halftime, all of which came in the first quarter, after he picked up his third foul with with 52.2 seconds left in the opening frame. But his persistence paid off in the second half.

While Banchero eventually had success on offense, the same couldn’t be side for either side shooting from 3-point range.

Orlando and Memphis shot a combined 2 of 17 from distance in the first quarter and it didn’t get any better as the night went on. Both teams shot below 30% on 3s.

And although the Magic totaled 52 points in the paint, the Grizzlies totaled 56 as Orlando failed to protect the paint.

In addition, the Magic missed 10 free throws after missing 12 at Atlanta.

Let’s get technical

Mosley was assessed a technical foul at the 7:43 mark of the second quarter after he complained following a non-call during a Wagner layup.

Mosley repeatedly called on the officials to call the game “the same way” for both Orlando and Memphis.

Later in the second quarter, Magic assistant Dale Osbourne was given a technical foul as well.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (9 points) also earned a tech four minutes into the second half.

Rookie watch

Tristan da Silva hit Orlando’s first 3 of the night in the closing seconds of the opening frame.

The No. 18 pick added five more points before halftime to total eight with three assists and two rebounds in 17 minutes.


©2025 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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