Paolo Banchero banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime off an inbounds pass from Anthony Black as the Orlando Magic eked out a 104-103 victory over the Brooklyn Nets after blowing an 18-point lead Wednesday night in New York.
Banchero finished with 30 points and 14 rebounds and his only 3 gave the Magic their eighth straight win over Brooklyn. He made 11 of 19 shots and finished two shy of his season high.
Rookie Egor Demin banked in a 3 with 5.3 seconds left over Wendell Carter Jr. to put Brooklyn up 103-101 and Orlando then called a timeout. After Black could not inbound the ball on the first try with 3.6 seconds left, Orlando called timeout then got the ball to Banchero, who was fouled by Michael Porter Jr. with 2.1 seconds left.
On the next inbounds pass, Banchero took the pass, stepped back and his off-balance 3 from the top of the key over Porter cleanly went in off the glass and the Magic celebrated. The shot was confirmed after a brief review as replay showed Banchero’s right foot was barely above the 3-point line.
Banchero’s game-winner was the fifth buzzer-beating 3 in team history and it occurred after the Magic lost a 10-point lead in the final 4:02 of regulation, with Demin’s 3 forging a 93-93 tie with 5.6 seconds left. It was Orlando’s second-buzzer beating 3 this season after Desmond Bane did the same to beat Portland on Nov. 10.
Carter added 20 for the Magic, who shot 42.7% and were outscored 29-14 in the fourth. Tristan da Silva contributed 14 and rookie Noah Penda collected 13 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
Porter led all scorers with 34 points and hit eight of Brooklyn’s 17 3s. Demin scored all of his 18 points after the third quarter but the Nets shot 41.9% and lost for the fourth time in five games.
Before the dramatic finish, Banchero scored 11 points in the third and the Magic carried a 79-64 lead into the.
–Field Level Media
