Franz Wagner scored 25 points and Jamal Cain added 20 as the visiting Orlando Magic stretched their winning streak to five games with a 127-103 victory against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
Orlando (45-36) remained alive for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference — which would allow the Magic to avoid the play-in tournament — with one game remaining in the regular season.
Atlanta, however, clinched the Southeast Division title with its victory in Cleveland earlier Friday.
Chicago (31-50) suffered its eighth loss in 10 games despite 23 points from Tre Jones. The Bulls have lost 50 games for the first time since 2018-19.
Orlando’s Jalen Suggs overcame an 0-for-3 start from long range in the first half with a 4-for-6 effort in the third quarter. He swished two threes during a 10-3 run midway through the third to help the Magic pull away. Orlando led by as many as 28.
Goga Bitadze posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Magic. Paolo Banchero scored 14 points to go with seven assists. Suggs had 12 points and Wendell Carter Jr. 11.
Matas Buzelis had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls before leaving in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle. Leonard Miller added 15 points while Rob Dillingham (13) and Collin Sexton (12) followed.
Cain scored 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting in the second quarter, helping Orlando outscore Chicago 36-27 and take a 64-53 advantage into the break.
Wagner led all scorers with 14 first-half points. He swished a pair of treys in a 1:21 span late in the second quarter before the Bulls chipped away behind dunks from Lachlan Olbrich (nine rebounds) and Buzelis.
Jett Howard (sprained left ankle) and Jonathan Isaac (sprained left knee) remained out for the Magic.
Chicago’s lengthy injury report included leading scorer and rebounder Josh Giddey (strained left hamstring), who has been shut down for the rest of the season.
Jones has scored at least 20 points in a career-best four consecutive games.
Orlando secured a split of the four-game season series. The Magic have won eight of their last 11 against the Bulls.
–Field Level Media
