Orlando Magic Survive Phoenix Suns Late Comeback to Pull Out Close 115-111 Win

After jumping out to a 16-point lead early on, the Orlando Magic had to dig down deep in the final period to fend off a furious comeback by the Phoenix Suns to pick up a crucial win in their quest to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Everyone Feasts on Offense for Magic in Win

Well, the Magic didn’t need an impeccable game from star players such as Desmond Bane or Paolo Banchero, as almost every player for Orlando had a solid outing on offense in the win. The Magic would see 6 players finish in double digits, with all 6 players scoring 12 or more points in the game. However, even though the Magic’s offense saw great production from a variety of different players, their efficiency was an entirely different story as they shot just 44% from the floor.

Orlando’s offense was heavily buoyed by the free-throw line in the win, as they made 35 of 41 shots from the line, which proved to be the biggest difference maker in the win. The Magic would also need the clutch heroics of Desmond Bane to help pull out the win, as the star guard banked in a tough floater with 6.7 seconds left in the game to push Orlando’s slim 111-108 lead up to 5 points to effectively ice the game.

While Bane was the hero for Orlando, the Magic got two key performances from players like Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs that also played a big role in securing the win. Carter Jr. would finish with a solid double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Suggs would finish with a near triple-double of 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in the win.

Devin Booker Nearly Carries the Suns to Victory

Although the Suns saw over 5 players finish in double digits, the Suns’ offense was essentially carried by another great outing from franchise superstar Devin Booker. The five-time All-Star finished with a game-high 34 points and dished out 7 assists, as he was the fulcrum of the Suns’ offensive attack in the loss. Phoenix would finish the game shooting just 40% from the field and 30% from the three-point line.

Much of the reason for the Suns’ lackluster offense was due in part to the poor performances from both Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. Brooks would score 9 points on 4 for 13 shooting, while Green would finish with 8 points on 3 for 10 shooting. It was a rare bad game from Green, who has been scorching hot for the entire month of March. The former Houston Rocket is averaging 23 points per game on an efficient 45% from the field.

Suns Likely to Finish in the Play-In Tournament

Following tonight’s loss against Orlando, the Suns seem destined to be in the play-in tournament at the conclusion of the NBA regular season next week. It’s not an entirely unexpected finish for Phoenix, as the Suns have seemingly been stuck in the 7th-place position in the West for almost the entire season. While the Suns still hold a slim chance of catching the Houston Rockets for the 6th-place spot, they’ll more than likely be unable to overcome the current 4.5-game lead the Rockets possess.

Meanwhile, for the Magic, this was a much-needed win as they look to climb out of the play-in tournament in a more jam-packed Eastern Conference. Orlando is currently in 8th place in the East, but has a chance to snag the 5th seed if they finish the season strong. Only 2.5 games separate the Atlanta Hawks and the Magic, with Orlando having an opportunity to further slice into that slim lead as both teams are set to face off on Wednesday.