Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) dribbles against Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Franz Wagner scored 35 points as the visiting Orlando Magic posted a 106-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA on Wednesday.
Wagner shot 12 of 23 from the field and 10 of 10 from the foul line en route to his seventh 30-point game of the season. Jalen Suggs pitched in 17 points on 4-of-8 3-point shooting, while his Magic teammates combined to shoot 4-of-21 from beyond the arc.
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Rookie Jared McCain scored 24 points to pace Philadelphia, which played without Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (knee). Orlando, meanwhile, continued to play without Paolo Banchero (oblique).
READ: NBA: Magic’s Franz Wagner sinks Lakers with late trey
Tyrese Maxey (16 points), Kelly Oubre Jr. (15) and Guerschon Yabusele (15) also made solid contributions for the Sixers, who host the Magic again Friday night.
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The score was tied at 53-53 at halftime and at 74-74 after three quarters — and the fourth quarter didn’t disappoint either.
Franz Wagner mentioned throughout his scoring run in the absence of Paolo Banchero, he’s looked for tips from him “Obviously he’s in those situations or he’s more used to it, so I look for him to help us out. Just give little pointers when he sees something.”
🎥: @OrlandoMagic pic.twitter.com/6g7ZBXlVGz
— Fawzan Amer (@FAmer__) December 5, 2024
The Magic scored 10 of the first 12 points of the final quarter, including three buckets by Wagner.
Orlando still held a 97-87 lead with 4:07 left when Philadelphia made a major push. McCain’s 3-pointer and Maxey’s layup highlighted a 13-4 run by the visitors, but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope knocked down two free throws with eight seconds remaining to put the Magic ahead 103-100.
READ: NBA Cup: Franz Wagner scoring surge as Magic rout Hornets
Maxey attempted a running 3-pointer on the other end, hoping to draw a foul in the process, but there was no whistle as the shot rimmed off. Wagner made two free throws to essentially seal the win.
Wagner scored 11 first-quarter points as the Magic led 34-22 after one period.
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Orlando’s Jonathan Isaac (14 points) made a 3-pointer early in the second quarter to push the lead to 15, but the Sixers quickly chipped away and sliced the deficit to 44-42 on McCain’s layup midway through the period. The visitors jumped back ahead by seven before McCain and Maxey helped Philadelphia draw even at the break.
The Sixers took a six-point lead early in the third quarter, but Wagner responded with six straight points to tie the game. The teams were separated by no more than three points for the remainder of the quarter. –Field Level Media