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Magic hold off late charge, beat Wizards

Dec 26, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford (21) defends in the second quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Franz Wagner scored 28 points and Paolo Banchero had 24 as the visiting Orlando Magic staved off a late rally by the Washington Wizards in a 127-119 win on Tuesday.

Rookie Anthony Black added a career-high 23 points for Orlando, which won its second straight following a four-game losing streak. Jalen Suggs, Moritz Wagner, and Cole Anthony each scored 11, and Goga Bitadze finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Washington trailed by 17 midway through the fourth quarter but used a 19-6 run to pull within 123-119 with 52 seconds remaining. Bitadze scored on Orlando’s next possession and the Magic sealed the win at the foul line.

Jordan Poole led Washington with 30 points. Tyus Jones scored 22 points, Kyle Kuzma scored 17 points, Corey Kispert had 15 and Daniel Gafford recorded 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Orlando held a 10-point advantage at the start of the fourth quarter and extended its lead to 117-100 on Black’s 3-pointer midway through the period. Black was 9-of-13 shooting for the game, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range.

Orlando won its fifth straight meeting against Washington, which committed 20 turnovers and shot 49.4 percent from the field, including 16 of 42 (38.1 percent) from 3-point range.

The Magic connected on 52.7 percent of their shots and were 12 of 26 (46.2 percent) from beyond the arc.

Black set the tone for his career night with 11 points in the opening quarter, which ended with the teams tied at 33.

Orlando maintained a single-digit lead for most of the second quarter and held a 63-60 advantage at the break. Black scored 17 points to lead the Magic, while Kispert had 15 to lead Washington.

Black, Banchero and Franz Wagner each finished the third quarter with 20 points, and Orlando took a 98-88 lead into the final period.

Washington guard Delon Wright made his first appearance since Nov. 10, when he suffered a sprained left knee. Wright finished with seven points in 13 minutes off the bench.

–Field Level Media

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