The Orlando Magic weren’t about to let their season slip away — not on their home floor.
With their backs against the wall and the home crowd roaring behind them, the Magic showed up with heart, hustle, and just enough firepower to take down the visiting squad, securing a thrilling 104-97 win and grabbing their first dub of the series. The victory cuts into their opponent’s series lead and breathes new life into what’s quickly becoming a must-watch playoff battle.
From the opening tip, you could tell the Magic had a different energy.
They were faster to loose balls, more physical on defense, and sharper on offense. Paolo Banchero led the charge, looking every bit like the franchise cornerstone Orlando fans have been dreaming about. He dropped 26 points, grabbed 9 boards, and dished out 4 assists, setting the tone on both ends of the floor.
“We knew we couldn’t go down 0-3,” Banchero said after the game. “This was a must-win, and we treated it like it.”
The Magic’s defensive intensity was noticeable from the jump. They swarmed passing lanes, closed out on shooters, and made life miserable for their opponent’s star players. Franz Wagner chipped in with a huge performance of his own, adding 21 points and locking down the perimeter defensively.
But it wasn’t just the stars — Orlando’s role players showed out too.
Jalen Suggs brought relentless energy, diving on the floor for loose balls, while Wendell Carter Jr. anchored the paint with 12 rebounds and a couple of momentum-shifting blocks. The Magic’s bench outscored their counterparts 32-18, providing the kind of spark playoff teams need to survive and advance.
The biggest difference from the first two games of the series?
The Magic finally controlled the tempo. They forced their opponent into uncomfortable half-court sets and didn’t let them get easy buckets in transition. Every possession became a grind, and the Magic fed off the building energy.
“Our fans were incredible tonight,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “You could feel it. Every defensive stop, every big shot, the place was electric. Our guys fed off that all night.”
For the visiting team, frustration started to show by the third quarter. After a tight first half, the Magic used a 15-4 run to create some breathing room, capped off by a monstrous dunk from Banchero that sent the Amway Center into a frenzy. Even when the visitors tried to claw back late, the Magic answered every run — whether it was a clutch three from Cole Anthony or a tough and-one finish by Wagner.
Defensively, the Magic held their opponent to just 40% shooting from the field and 29% from three — a major improvement from the first two games where they had been torched from deep. The Magic’s physicality disrupted the rhythm, and by the fourth quarter, it was clear which team wanted it more.
Still, it wasn’t without drama.
In the final two minutes, the visitors cut the lead to just five points, but a huge corner three from Suggs — followed by a strip-steal and fast-break layup — sealed the deal, bringing the fans to their feet for good.
“We finally punched back,” Suggs said with a grin. “Now we gotta do it again.”
The win doesn’t just make it a series — it sends a message. The Magic aren’t just happy to be here. They believe they can win. And if they keep bringing this kind of intensity, belief might just turn into reality.
Game 4 will be another fight, no doubt. But for now, the Magic can celebrate getting their first dub of the series — and protecting their house when it mattered most.
