Magic Power Past Wizards
Washington, DC — Paolo Banchero doesn’t want his scoring streak post-All-Star break to end, so he dropped 33 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, leading the Orlando Magic to a 109-97 victory over the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. With this win and some help from other games on tonight’s slate, the Magic have locked in a Play-In position for the postseason.
Key Injury Report Updates
The Magic had their team back on the court tonight as healthy as can be, bar any season-ending injuries to the likes of Jalen Suggs (knee) and Mo Wagner (torn ACL) with Cole Anthony continuing to come off the bench for Cory Joseph as he nurses his toe injury.
Washington on the other hand wasn’t so lucky with a few key injuries to their players. Jordan Poole (elbow), Saddiq Bey (knee), Kyshawn George (ankle), Malcolm Brogdon (ankle), Khris Middleton (knee), and Richaun Holmes (shoulder) were all listed as out for tonight’s game.
Banchero’s Run Continues
Paolo Banchero was a force, notching 33 points, a career-high 18 rebounds, and 8 assists. His 10th double-double of the season had his dominance on full display, while Franz Wagner’s added 27 points and helped the Magic down the stretch.
Starters Wendell Carter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were also key contributers with their double digit scoring, pouring in 10 and 13 points, respectively.
Wizards’ Rookie Shines
Wizards Rookie Bub Carrington erupted for a career-high 32 points, including a Wizards rookie-record 7-of-10 from three, and adding 9 rebounds. Alex Sarr struggled with 10 points on 25.0% shooting, while Marcus Smart and AJ Johnson contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Play-In Positioning
With their second straight win and sixth in eight games, Orlando is now 38-40 and have moved a game ahead of Atlanta for the East’s 7th seed. The Magic will enjoy a four-day break before a pivotal game against the Hawks in Orlando that gives they a chance to solidify their postseason standing.