Franz Wagner dazzled with a game-high 29 factors, whereas Wendell Carter Jr. supplied a strong double-double of 20 factors and 10 rebounds to assist the Orlando Magic defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 109-106 in an exhilarating Tuesday night time encounter.
Damian Lillard had 30 factors for the Blazers, who misplaced their fourth straight.
The Magic led 19 factors within the first half, however the Blazers closed the hole within the second quarter to tie it at 50 at halftime.
After trailing 82-73 to start out the ultimate quarter, Portland pulled to 89-84 on Anfernee Simons’ layup. Orlando stayed in entrance, going up 104-94 on Wagner’s 3-pointer with 3:35 left.
Lillard’s layup with 1:32 left received Portland as shut as 105-101. Gary Harris fouled Lillard on a 3-point try – and Lillard made all three free throws to drag the Blazers nearer at 107-106 with 25.1 seconds to go.
Markelle Fultz made free throws for Orlando and Portland missed a flurry of 3-point makes an attempt within the last moments.
Paulo Banchero added 19 factors for the Magic. They have been coming off a 115-101 loss at Sacramento the night time earlier than.
Jerami Grant made a pair of layups to cap a 16-1 run that erased Orlando’s first-half lead and received the Blazers inside 40-36. Jusuf Nurkic’s layup and free throw tied the sport at 47 and the groups went into halftime knotted at 50.
After the Blazers scored a season-low 20 factors within the opening quarter, they outscored the Magic 30-17 within the second. Nukic began regardless of battling a non-COVID sickness and led all scorers within the first half with 18 factors, together with eight rebounds and a pair of blocks.
The Magic opened the second half with a 15-0 run. Simons ended the scoring drought with a 3-pointer 4:40 into the half. Lillard’s emphatic dunk pulled Portland to 79-70 late within the third quarter.
