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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 is 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.
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 Franz Wagner, Banchero 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, two rebounds and a steal and a block.
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.
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 [email protected]
Continue reading...
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 is 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 Franz Wagner, Banchero 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, two 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 [email protected]
Continue reading...
