Wagner, Banchero Outduel LeBron, Luka as Magic Beat Lakers 118-106

ORLANDO, Fla. –– Whenever Los Angeles is involved, the stars usually come out to play. With a record crowd on hand, Monday night at the Kia Center was no different.

With brand-new Orlando Magic Hall of Fame inductee Dwight Howard in attendance, current team leaders Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner outdueled LeBron James, Luka Doncic and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers in a 118-106 victory.

The Magic got 62 points from Wagner (32 points, eight assists) and Banchero (30, seven rebounds), who shot a combined 22-of-43 from the field.

"You can't say enough about those two," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said postgame of his stars, who each finished with 30-plus points for the third time this season and the fourth time in their careers.

"It always starts with us two," Banchero said. "We want to come out every game and be the aggressors."

Orlando got complementary double-figure scoring from Anthony Black (17 points, 7-of-10 shooting) and Wendell Carter Jr. (12). The Magic also made 15 made threes, the 13th time this season that's happened.

"AB played great," Wagner said postgame. "He was super aggressive, and when he's playing like that, he's really hard to guard.

"I feel like I've been sitting here after a lot of these games and talking about him, because we need him playing just like that. I think he's one of those guys, today, his mentality was just to be in attack mode. I think he can feel when he's like that and it gives everybody else a lot of juice."

The Magic won consecutive games without a week's break between them for the first time since Dec. 21 and 23.

"I think we were just locked in from start to finish," Banchero said. "We knew this was going to be a big game for us. We knew also that we haven't won two games in a row in a long time. We said that we have to get this one and [I'm] just happy with everybody's focus and effort."

Orlando, 34-38, swept the season series with the Lakers for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Monday's result also spoiled the return of former Magic draft pick JJ Redick's return to Orlando — this time as a coach.

The Magic did it with an overpowering third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 34-18. Orlando is 11-6 since Christmas when winning the 12 minutes post-halftime.

"We can play with anybody, and we know that," Banchero said. "We just have to have a certain level of focus night in [and] night out. We can't be relaxed. Tonight, nobody was relaxed. Everybody was locked in on the goal from the start."

Dwight Howard becomes 13th inductee into Magic HOF

Before Monday's game, the Magic honored franchise legend Dwight Howard as the 13th member of the team's Hall of Fame.

Howard also was recognized at midcourt between the first and second quarters . Fans greeted him warmly with applause.

During his eight years in Orlando, Howard was a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA first-teamer; three-time Defensive Player of the Year; and a runner-up for league most valuable player in 2010-11. As a Magic player, he led the league four times in rebounds and twice in blocks.

He leads the franchise all-time in points, rebounds, blocks, made free throws and minutes played. Howard is also a 2025 finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Up Next

The Magic take on the Charlotte Hornets Tuesday, March 25, at 7 p.m. ET on the second night of a back-to-back.