The Orlando Magic needed a strong finish to their West Coast road trip, and Franz Wagner made sure they got one. Wagner poured in a season-high 38 points as Orlando beat the Utah Jazz 123-108 on Wednesday night at Delta Center.
The win moves the Magic to 4-7. Utah has now lost 10 straight games and falls to 1-11.
A Big Fourth-Quarter Push
This one was tight for a long time. The game was tied at 98 with 6:31 left. Then the Magic took over, closing on a 25-10 run. Orlando made 10 of its final 16 shots, while Utah missed five of its last nine.
Wagner was at the center of it all again. He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, and the boos from the Utah crowd seemed to only fire him up more.
Wagner Is on a Roll
Wagner’s final line:
- 38 points (season high)
- 13-of-23 shooting
- 3-of-8 from three
- 9-of-10 from the free-throw line
- 8 rebounds in 39 minutes
It was his third straight game with at least 30 points, the third time he’s done that in his career. The night before, he had 33 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in a gritty win over the Sacramento Kings.
Anthony Black Steps Up Again
Anthony Black dealt with ankle soreness early in the week, but he played both games of the back-to-back and delivered both times. Against Utah, he finished with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists, going 3-of-6 from deep. Against Sacramento, he had 26 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals.
With several key players out, Black has become the clear second option behind Wagner.
Who Was Missing
Orlando played without Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and Tristan da Silva. That put even more pressure on Wagner and Black, and they handled it.
Utah Lived and Died by the Three
The Jazz came into the game near the bottom of the league in three-point shooting, but they fired away anyway. Utah took 44 of its 81 shots from beyond the arc, including 27 of its first 34 attempts. Orlando did a better job contesting Utah’s best shooters as the night went on.
The Bigger Picture
After losses in Phoenix and Golden State, the Magic split the four-game trip 2-2 with back-to-back wins over Sacramento and Utah. It’s still been a rough start to the season, but with Wagner playing at this level, Orlando fans have a reason to feel a little better heading home.