WASHINGTON — For a team like the Orlando Magic, who haven’t opened the regular season as they would have liked, a game against the Wizards presented an opportunity.
Washington has 10 players on the roster age 22 or under, so the Magic hoped they would have a chance to find their footing on offense, impose their will on defense and showcase the new style of play they are implementing.
Orlando did all of that and more when Jamahl Mosley’s squad won its second game in a row, 125-94, on Saturday night at Capital One Arena, outscoring Washington 71-40 across the second and third quarters.
Paolo Banchero (28 points), Franz Wagner (25) and Wendell Carter Jr. (16) combined for 69 points in the 31-point victory over the Wizards (1-5).
The win is Orlando’s 11th straight over Washington, dating back to March 21, 2023.
The Magic (3-4) wrap up their seasonlong five-game, nine-day trip Tuesday at Atlanta.
Second-quarter surge
The game opened up in favor of the Magic after the first frame, when Wagner and Banchero had their way driving downhill against the young Washington defense.
Wagner powered an early run by penetrating the paint, and Banchero later joined in on the scoring spree with back-to-back triples. They also both got to the free-throw line and sunk three apiece in the quarter.
Banchero (15 points) and Wagner (11) combined to score 26 of Orlando’s 43 second-quarter points. That total tied the franchise record for most points ever scored in a second quarter.
The Magic previously had 43 on Feb. 14, 2023 at Toronto and April 11 at Indiana.
Orlando led 75-56 at the break when it held Washington to 1-for-5 shooting from 3-point range in the second frame. The first half also marked just the second time Wagner and Banchero both scored 20-plus points in the same half.
Help from the bench
Although Banchero and Wagner did much of the heavy lifting on offense in the first half, veteran guard Tyus Jones scored 6 points before the break, making the most he’s scored in a Magic uniform.
Goga Bitadze was the lone member of the Magic bench to reach double figures when he notched 15 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes.
Jonathan Isaac continued to be in Orlando’s rotation when he played 16 minutes, totaling 8 points and 6 rebounds while making his presence felt on both ends.
Free points
The Magic took advantage of their trips to the free throw line when they shot 14 for 14 in the first half.
Orlando ended 19 for 22 from the charity stripe (86.4%) marking their best free throw percentage of the season.
The Magic had struggled there throughout the start of the road trip when they missed 12 free throws at Philadelphia, 12 at Detroit and 6 at Charlotte.
Rookie watch
Second-round pick Noah Penda, who had played in the first quarter of the last three games, didn’t step onto the court until the 6:46 mark of the fourth.
The French forward was joined by first-round pick Jase Richardson a minute later when the pair of rookies played the second half of the final frame.
Penda hit a 3-pointer late and added 3 assists, 2 rebounds, a steal and a block in late action. Richardson grabbed one rebound and missed his lone shot.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com