Paolo Banchero returns to guide Magic past Jazz
Paolo Banchero scored 29 points in his return from a two-game absence caused by an illness, lifting the Orlando Magic to a 115-107 home win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.
Banchero made 10 of 16 shots, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out six assists to help the Magic win for the fifth time in six games. On the down side, he committed a game-high six turnovers.
Orlando’s Jalen Suggs added 15 points, all in the second half, and hit three clutch 3-pointers in the final three minutes. Moritz Wagner contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Franz Wagner added 14 points and six assists.
John Collins, Collin Sexton and Keyonte George each scored 19 points for the struggling Jazz, who have lost seven of eight games. Lauri Markkanen added 18 points, while Collins hauled in a team-high 10 boards.
The game was tied 99-99 with under five minutes remaining, but the Magic went on a 10-0 run in the final minutes. Suggs, who missed both of his first-half field-goal attempts, drained back-to-back 3-pointers to ignite the game-clinching spurt.