The Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers squared off for the second time in less than a week. This time they did so at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The Magic were looking to avenge the heartbreaking loss they took in Los Angeles. The Magic ended up doing just that, defeating the Lakers 120-101. The Magic have now improved to 4-2 overall on the season. The growth of this Orlando Magic team is becoming evident. It is very early in the season but the signs are there that this team can make moves. Magic Forward Paolo Banchero scored 25 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out 10 assists. Banchero spoke postgame about his team’s win and their confidence.
“We don’t look at any other team and think we can’t match up,” said Banchero.
Paolo Banchero and Anthony Black took their postgame press conference together. Banchero had strong praise for Anthony Black. Who is making an immediate impact as a Rookie.
“Plus-32 for my dawg right here,” said Banchero, referring to Black’s plus/minus ratio in 30 minutes. “Plus-32 is nuts. He just stepped up right away.”
“He wasn’t afraid,” said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. “”He embraces moments, and he’s willing to make the easy play, the easy pass and the right decision.”
LeBron James and the Lakers fell to 3-3 overall on the season. There were a lot of Laker fans in attendance as there usually is on the road for the Lakers. However, the Lakers could not get it going and ended up getting beat convincingly by the Magic. James had some things to say about his team’s performance not this game but this season overall so far.
“That’s definitely been our trend — offensive rebounds and points off turnovers. We’ll do a good job of getting a stop and then an offensive rebound allows them to score.”
“It definitely helps when you have bigger bodies,” James said. “We have three of our bigger bodies out right now with injuries. … It would help, but that’s definitely one of the ways we have to look at to get better.”
More Magic Contributions
- Franz Wagner scored 26 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out two assists.
- Goga Bitadze scored 10 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out two assists.
- Anthony Black scored 11 points, grabbed four rebounds, and dished out two assists.
- Moe Wagner scored 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out two assists off the bench.
- Cole Anthony scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds.
The Orlando Magic face the Dallas Mavericks next in Orlando on Monday, 11/6/23. Tip-off from the Amway Center is at 7 p.m. Eastern.
