Franz Wagner sank a pair of late 3-pointers to highlight his 25-point performance, fueling the host Orlando Magic to a 105-98 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday in an NBA Cup game.
Tristan da Silva added 22 points and nine rebounds while starting in place of the injured Paolo Banchero (left groin strain).
Desmond Bane scored 19 points for the Magic, who overcame an early 16-point deficit and finished with an 11-0 run to record their sixth win in the last eight games.
Orlando, which held a 46-34 edge in rebounds and overcame 19 turnovers, has won both of its contests thus far in Group B of the NBA Cup.
Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr. collected 24 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high seven assists.
Porter made 10 of 24 shots from the floor for the Nets, who have lost 11 of 12 games overall this season and both contests in the NBA Cup.
Brooklyn’s Ziaire Williams scored 15 points off the bench and added three steals.
With the Nets nursing a 98-94 lead after a Nic Claxton driving layup with 2:37 remaining, the Magic secured an offensive rebound after Wagner misfired on a pair of free throws and da Silva promptly nailed a 3-pointer.
After Claxton misfired on the next possession, Wagner banked in a 26-footer with 1:25 left in regulation to give the Magic the lead for good. He followed suit on the next possession and Bane sealed the win at the free-throw line.
Brooklyn build its biggest lead of the season at 16 points at 53-37 midway through the second quarter before Orlando responded by scoring the next 13 points and 34 of the next 45 to take a seven-point advantage (71-64) with 5:13 remaining in the third quarter.
The Nets benefited from Porter’s six assists and a 7-1 advantage in turnovers to seize a 36-27 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The nine-point edge marked Brooklyn’s largest lead of the season after one quarter.
–Field Level Media
