Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) celebrates with guard Jalen Suggs (4) after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers with a 3-point basket with 2.5 seconds left in the NBA game at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Franz Wagner scored 15 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining, and the visiting Orlando Magic rallied for a 119-118 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA on Thursday.
Orlando’s Jalen Suggs scored 23 points, Moritz Wagner had 19 and Tristan da Silva added 12. Franz Wagner added 11 assists while shooting 13-for-26 from the floor, including 5-for-9 in the final period.
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FRANZ WAGNER GAME WINNER OVER THE LAKERS 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/8yL14KwPIb
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 22, 2024
Goga Bitadze grabbed 15 rebounds as the Magic won for the seventh time in eight games.
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Anthony Davis amassed 39 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, but he missed 3 of 4 free-throw attempts in the final 27 seconds and was also off target on an 18-foot turnaround jumper at the buzzer. Los Angeles was 3-for-9 from the foul line in the fourth quarter.
LeBron James posted 31 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers. Rookie Dalton Knecht added 17 points two nights after scoring a career-high 37 while tying the NBA rookie record with nine 3-pointers. Knecht shot 3-for-7 from deep against the Magic.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) in the second half of an NBA game at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Los Angeles had a six-game winning streak end and lost for the first time in eight home games this season.
The Lakers took a 105-98 lead with 7:23 remaining after James made three 3-pointers in a 1:04 stretch that also included a Davis free throw. Davis sank a 3-pointer with 5:02 remaining to give Los Angeles a 110-105 advantage.
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The Magic moved in front 113-112 with 2:06 left on a 3-pointer from Franz Wagner before the Lakers took the lead on a James basket, a James rebound on the other end and an outlet pass to Davis for a dunk and a 116-113 edge with 1:17 left.
Franz Wagner scored eight of the Magic’s last nine points over the final 2:06.
The teams traded the lead 10 times in the first two quarters with the Lakers taking their biggest advantage of the half when they went into the break up 67-60. Los Angeles shot 55.6 percent from the floor in the first half, and Davis had 19 points.
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James opened the second half with a 3-pointer to give Los Angeles its biggest lead of the game at 70-60. Orlando used a 13-3 run in the third quarter to take a 78-77 lead, and the score remained close through the fourth quarter.
The Magic were without Kentavious Caldwell Pope (personal) Paolo Banchero (oblique) and Wendell Carter Jr. (foot). –Field Level Media
