Beede’s Breakdown: Magic fall short at T-Wolves despite Banchero’s 43
MINNEAPOLIS — It was always going to be an uphill battle for the Magic on the second night of a back-to-back against the Timberwolves at Target Center.
But Friday night, while missing two starters, Orlando put up a valiant effort against one of the league’s hottest teams.
With six players scoring in double figures and two more with at least 8 points, the Timberwolves escaped at home 118-111 against Jamahl Mosley‘s squad despite 43 points from Paolo Banchero.
The win marked Minnesota’s seventh straight as the Magic split the first four games of their five-game trip.
Although Orlando was able to mostly keep pace with Minnesota from distance (each team made at least 12 3-pointers), the Timberwolves took control late when they opened the fourth quarter on a 17-3 run.
Orlando was ahead 87-78 after three quarters but was outscored 40-24 by Minnesota (39-29) in the last 12 minutes. All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards finished with 28 points to help the Timberwolves overcome an 11-point deficit.
The Magic (31-37) wrap up their trip Sunday at Cleveland in a matchup with the East’s top squad in a national TV exclusive on ABC.
Starting 5
Cole Anthony missed his second straight contest due to a left big toe strain while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope got the night off for rest.
Veteran guard Cory Joseph made his second start in a row and just his third of the season for Orlando while rookie Tristan da Silva opened in place of Caldwell-Pope.
Joseph and da Silva began on the court alongside regulars Banchero, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. against the Timberwolves.
Banchero got to the free throw line early and often when he made his first five attempts there. He posted 12 points in nine first-quarter minutes before reaching 26 through three frames.
It marked his ninth straight 20-point game dating to Feb. 25, the longest streak of his NBA career, and his second straight with 30-plus points.
The high-scoring performance was Banchero’s fourth this year with at least 40 points and the sixth of his career.
Although Wagner posted 16 points, it took getting to the charity stripe as much as he could on an off-night for the forward. Missing his first seven shots from the field before ending 4 of 15, Wagner shot 8 of 8 at the foul line.
Joseph brought the energy again for Orlando when he made plays on both ends of the court. He racked up eight points, three assists, three rebounds and a steal and a block.
Second unit
It was all-hands-on-deck for Orlando to keep legs fresh throughout the night.
Mosley used six reserves in the first half, utilizing every available player besides two-way guard Trevelin Queen. But as the game went on, the rotation tightened.
Caleb Houstan provided a boost off the bench when he shot 4 of 5 from beyond the arc to reach 12 points before the break. He later added his fifth and sixth triples to reach 18 points, marking a season-high.
It was just his fourth game of the season with at least three made triples.
Jonathan Isaac was forced to play at the No. 5 spot early after Goga Bitadze picked up two fouls in the first half.
Anthony Black had an inefficient night when he shot 2 of 8 from the floor for just six points with four rebounds in 20 minutes.
Minnesota’s bench outscored Orlando’s 36-32.
Rookie watch
Da Silva made his 36th start of the season, but just his first since Feb. 2 for Orlando.
The No. 18 pick hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter when he helped defend Edwards at times.
The rookie added three rebounds when he totaled eight points in 22 minutes.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Topics
-
Timberwolves rally to beat Magic 118-111 for their 7th straight victory
Anthony Edwards scored 28 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the Orlando Magic 118-111 on Friday night for their seventh straight victoryABC News - 6h -
Magic crush Pelicans behind Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner
NEW ORLEANS — Considered business handled. The Magic steamrolled the Pelicans, 113-93, Thursday night behind a combined 61 points from star duo Paolo Banchero (34) and Franz Wagner (27) at Smoothie ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Banchero & Wagner leads Magic to comfortable win over Pelicans
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner combined for 61 points as the Magic defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 113-93 Thursday night.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Timberwolves rally to beat Magic 118-111 for their 7th straight victory
Anthony Edwards scored 28 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the Orlando Magic 118-111 on Friday night for their seventh straight victory. Down 90-82 with 10:23 left, Minnesota ...Yahoo Sports - 7h -
Banchero scores 34 points and Magic build a 30-point halftime lead in a 113-93 rout of the Pelicans
Paolo Banchero had 34 points, 11 rebounds and four steals, and the Orlando Magic beat the New Orleans Pelicans 113-93 on Thursday night. Franz Wagner added 27 points, six rebounds and five ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Magic vs. Timberwolves Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for March 14
Orlando Magic vs. Minnesota Timberwolves PreviewYahoo Sports - 17h -
West York battles to bitter end in loss to Hershey in PIAA 5A state quarterfinals
The Bulldogs' magical run in the PIAA state tournament came to a close with a loss to Hershey in the 5A quarterfinals on Friday night.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
SEC Baseball Friday Night Recap: LSU rolls, Alabama beats A&M in thriller
The SEC began its conference baseball schedule on Friday night. LSU rolled while Alabama won in a ninth inning thriller.Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Magic end 5-game skid with a 111-109 victory over the Bucks
Paolo Banchero scored 29 points, Cole Anthony added 22 and the Orlando Magic beat Milwaukee 111-109 on Saturday to end a five-game skid and snap the Bucks’ four-game winning streakABC News - 6d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
MAC Tournament | Brothers lead Akron, Miami men's basketball teams into championship game
The 2025 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament championship features brothers John Groce of Akron and Travis Steele of Miami coaching against each other.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Bengals appear to have big plans for Joseph Ossai in 2025
Joseph Ossai is back and primed for a big role.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Dodgers' Betts dealing with illness in Japan, Roberts hopeful he'll be ready for opening day
Shortstop Mookie Betts will miss the Los Angeles Dodgers' two exhibition games in Japan because of an illness, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday. Roberts said he's still hopeful that the ...Yahoo Sports - 26m -
Exhausted Real Madrid to hand 25-year-old a start vs Villarreal with teenage sensation also in plans
Real Madrid are set to face Villarreal in what is expected to be one of their toughest away fixtures in La Liga this season. With the game taking place just days after an intense and exhausting ...Yahoo Sports - 28m -
F1 2025 season: Calendar, driver lineups, sprints and testing
The 2025 Formula One season is under way, with qualifying for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix completed. Lando Norris took pole ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. Defending champion Max ...Yahoo Sports - 32m
More in Sports
-
MAC Tournament | Brothers lead Akron, Miami men's basketball teams into championship game
The 2025 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament championship features brothers John Groce of Akron and Travis Steele of Miami coaching against each other.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Bengals appear to have big plans for Joseph Ossai in 2025
Joseph Ossai is back and primed for a big role.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Dodgers' Betts dealing with illness in Japan, Roberts hopeful he'll be ready for opening day
Shortstop Mookie Betts will miss the Los Angeles Dodgers' two exhibition games in Japan because of an illness, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday. Roberts said he's still hopeful that the ...Yahoo Sports - 26m -
Exhausted Real Madrid to hand 25-year-old a start vs Villarreal with teenage sensation also in plans
Real Madrid are set to face Villarreal in what is expected to be one of their toughest away fixtures in La Liga this season. With the game taking place just days after an intense and exhausting ...Yahoo Sports - 28m -
F1 2025 season: Calendar, driver lineups, sprints and testing
The 2025 Formula One season is under way, with qualifying for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix completed. Lando Norris took pole ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. Defending champion Max ...Yahoo Sports - 32m