Phoenix, AZ— Franz Wagner led the way with 32 points, and Anthony Black contributed 20 as the Orlando Magic defeated the struggling Phoenix Suns 109-99 on Monday night.
Tyus Jones was the standout for Phoenix with 18 points, while Devin Booker, fresh off a season-high 44-point performance, added 17 points to the scoreboard.
The Suns were hampered by injuries, missing three starters: Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Jusuf Nurkic. This marked Durant’s sixth consecutive game on the sidelines, and during this stretch, Phoenix has managed just one win, losing four games in a row.
Orlando also had its challenges, playing without leading scorer Paolo Banchero, who is sidelined with an oblique injury.
The Magic established a solid 64-48 lead as they began the third quarter, extending their advantage to 19 points with a quick five-point surge. The closest Phoenix could get in the final minutes was 98-91, following a three-pointer from Booker with 3:36 left in the game.
Takeaways Of The Game:
Magic: Orlando demonstrated that they could secure a road victory against a talented but depleted team. Since March 29 of last season, the Magic have won 14 consecutive home games, including five this season. However, they have struggled away from home, now standing at 3-14 at opposing arenas during that same period.
Suns: Phoenix is facing a difficult stretch due to injuries, but a positive note is that several young players are gaining valuable experience. Rookie Oso Ighodaro made an impact with 12 points and seven rebounds.
Key Moment Of The Game:
With just 2:23 remaining in the second quarter, Orlando was ahead 54-46 when they went on a crucial 10-2 run, extending their lead to 64-48 by halftime.
Key Stat Of The Game:
Orlando has held their opponents under 100 points in each of their last six games, and in three of those matchups, they limited opponents to under 90 points.
Up Next:
The Suns will host the New York Knicks on Wednesday, while the Magic will travel to face the Los Angeles Clippers on the same night.
