(Orlando) Franz Wagner scored 34 points and the Orlando Magic turned to rookie Pablo Banchero down the stretch to defeat the Toronto Raptors 113-109 on Friday night.
Banchero finished the game with 23 points and six rebounds for the Magic, which has won straight for only the second time this season.
Pascal Siakam had 36 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Raptors, who erased a 20-point second-half deficit. Gary Trent Jr. added 20 points while Fred VanVleet had 19.
The Raptors have won 11 of their last 12 games against the Magic, including a 121-108 victory in Toronto last Saturday.
“We arrived and everyone was like, ‘Oh, we’re supposed to win. But this is the NBA — there’s no game you’re supposed to win, Siakam said. We are all professionals and these teams come, they play hard and want to win, and we have to have the same mentality.
“These guys had good pace early on, and that’s what happens when we don’t start with the energy we had when we beat them at home. »
Wagner scored 14 points in a 3:33 range in the first half, helping the Magic to a 14-point lead.
Thanks to the brilliance of Trent, who made five shots in a row, including three from beyond the arch, the Raptors quickly erased this delay. Banchero had the Magic’s last seven points in the first half, allowing the Orlando squad to return to the locker room with a 67-63 lead.
Another offensive push from Wagner extended the lead to 88-68 midway through the third quarter. Siakam scored 18 of 40 bridges for the Raptors, who tied the game 108-108 on two free throws from OG Anunoby with 1:58 remaining.
Wagner made the only shot from the floor afterwards and Banchero confirmed the Magic’s victory when he hit two free throws with just 4.8 seconds left.