Magic wrap up 3-game trip at Bulls with paint scoring top of mind: ‘That’s our MO’

6 days ago 2

It’s almost fitting that Paolo Banchero‘s go-ahead basket with 7.5 seconds left to play Wednesday at Indiana took place in the paint.

Two days earlier, the Magic shot 44.6% in the painted area when Orlando gave up a 21-point lead in a 1-point loss at Toronto.

Against the Pacers, however, Jamahl Mosley‘s squad met the moment by shooting 64.8% in the paint to post 70 paint points — 28 more than what they scored against the Raptors.

And they needed all 70 when Banchero’s drive lifted the Magic past the Pacers, 112-110, inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse to hand Indiana its 10th loss in a row.

That’s because Orlando shot 3-for-21 from 3-point range after it entered 4-7 in games it had made nine or fewer 3-pointers this season. The last time the Magic won a game while making three or fewer 3-pointers was Dec.18, 2015 vs. Portland (2-of-15).

“That’s just what we’ve got to do,” Banchero (29 points, 10 rebounds) said about his team penetrating the paint. “Obviously we want to make more 3s but some nights, it goes that way. We just did a good job of being relentless getting in the paint and finishing at the hoop. That’s something we’ve got to continue to focus on.”

Added Magic guard Desmond Bane: “That’s our MO. We’ve got so many guys that can put pressure on the rim (and) touch the paint.”

One of those drivers was Jalen Suggs, who made his return to the court Wednesday after missing the last seven games due to a left hip bruise. Six of his 11 points were scored in the paint, including a running layup early in the fourth quarter.

Suggs added three steals, three assists and three rebounds but also turned the ball over three times in his first game back from injury.

“He’s a difference-maker for us on both ends of the floor,” Bane said about Suggs. “He can make plays with the ball, can facilitate, defend the other team’s best player, so he definitely helps us.”

Orlando was still without one of its key difference makers in Franz Wagner, who missed his 10th straight game because of a left high ankle sprain.

That’s not to mention Moe Wagner, who continues to rehab the torn ACL in his left knee, or Jonathan Isaac (sore left knee) and Jett Howard (illness), who also all missed Wednesday’s contest.

But Orlando still found a way to overcome those absences and win on the road against a Pacers team that led by 10 points in the third quarter.

In fact, the last three Magic games have been decided by two or fewer points, marking just the fourth time in team history that three-plus straight games have been decided by two or fewer points. The most consecutive games decided by two-or-fewer in club history is four games, a stretch that came last season (March 2-8, 2025).

One of the reasons why Wednesday’s contest ended in a favorable result for the Magic was because of the team’s ability to score second-chance points (9) and limit Indiana’s second-chance opportunities (just three).

At Toronto, the Raptors grabbed 21 offensive boards against the Magic. At Indiana, however, Orlando limited the Pacers to just five offensive rebounds, including just 1 after the first quarter.

“Our ability to finish possessions off shows how good we can be when we’re able to get out on the break and run,” Mosley said. “This group always takes on challenges. We just have to continue to work on the mini battles within the game.”

Orlando’s next challenge comes Friday at Chicago against a surging Bulls squad that’s 7-3 in its last 10 games.

Chicago, however, will be without guards Josh Giddey (left hamstring strain) and Coby White (right calf tightness) and center Zach Collins (right toe sprain).

Still, the Magic know they’ll have to focus on taking care of the basketball, closing out defensive rebounds and finishing around the basket if the team wants to end its three-game road trip on a high note.

“That’s been our Achilles’ heel in some of these losses — not being able to secure and finish possessions,” Bane said. “We secured possessions especially when it mattered, and that’s the difference between winning and losing in this league.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com