NBA: Magic look for elusive second straight win, battle Wizards

The Orlando Magic have struggled to string together consecutive victories since their three-game winning streak from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1.

Riding high off a recent offensive explosion, Orlando will look to break that streak on Tuesday when they visit the Washington Wizards.

Desmond Bane led the charge with 31 points, while Paolo Banchero contributed 28 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday, helping the Magic secure a 135-127 home win over a struggling Indiana Pacers.

“Much better offensively, but we've still got to figure out how to string together some stops on the defensive end,” Bane said. “We got a few when it mattered, but we're better than that on that end, for sure.”

Anthony Black also made a strong impact in his return to the starting lineup, scoring 27 points and dishing out 10 assists, as Orlando finished with a spirited effort to notch their fifth win in nine games.

“We just did a good job of staying poised,” Banchero said. “They kept making shots, and we were able to come down and execute late in the game in the fourth quarter.”

Despite the offensive firepower, Orlando’s defense showed vulnerabilities, especially without guard Jalen Suggs. The defensive standout is sidelined with a Grade 1 MCL contusion in his right knee, sustained during Friday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls.

“It’s just going to be collective,” Bane said regarding the team’s approach to coping with Suggs’ absence. “That’s been our identity, and it’s something we have to lean into. Losing a guy like Jalen, you’ve got to lean into it even more.”

Banchero also has a strong history against Washington, scoring 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting with 11 rebounds during Orlando’s 125-94 victory in the nation’s capital on Nov. 1.

The Wizards, meanwhile, have shown inconsistency. Minnesota scored at least 33 points per quarter and shot 56.1% from the field to rout Washington 141-115 on Sunday.

“These past 15 games or so, we’ve proven this isn’t who we are, so it feels more like a fluke than a bad trend,” said Corey Kispert of the Wizards, according to the Washington Post.

CJ McCollum added 20 points against the Timberwolves, marking the 13th time he has reached that mark this season. The team’s leading scorer, averaging 18.6 points per game, praised the young talent that he believes represents the future of the Wizards, including Alex Sarr (17.2 ppg), injured Kyshawn George (15.0 ppg), and Bilal Coulibaly (9.9 ppg).

“They’re handpicking the right guys… all these players have intangibles, skill sets, and the ability to grow and develop,” McCollum said on the Club 520 Podcast. “The sky’s the limit in the next three years. They’re young, that’s the scary part—real dogs when they’re 24-25.”

—Field Level Media/Reuters