{"id":191090,"date":"2026-03-14T03:54:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T03:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/191090\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T03:54:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T03:54:17","slug":"orlando-magic-overcame-fatigue-to-escape-wiz-in-overtime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/191090\/","title":{"rendered":"Orlando Magic overcame fatigue to escape Wiz in overtime"},"content":{"rendered":"

Less than 24 hours after recording a crucial win against one of the top teams in the East on national TV at Kia Center<\/a>, the Magic<\/a> nearly ran out of gas against one of the worst teams in the conference.<\/p>\n

Facing the 16-win Wizards<\/a> on the second night of a back-to-back, Orlando<\/a> needed overtime to extend its season-long winning streak to six games after it took down 40-win Cleveland<\/a> the night prior.<\/p>\n

The Magic squandered a 19-point lead in the second half, allowed Washington<\/a> to score 42 points across the final 12 minutes of regulation and required late-game heroics from Jalen Suggs<\/a> to escape at home against the Southeast Division opponent.<\/p>\n

But nevertheless, Jamahl Mosley<\/a>\u2018s squad found a way to win in overtime, 136-131, while playing its fourth game in six nights.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think (it\u2019s) very important in these games to recognize that we are not robots and that it\u2019s real,\u201d said Suggs, who scored a team-high 28 points. \u201cAnd fatigue is real, physically and mentally. Especially at the end of the year, it takes a lot to come out and play these games on top of playing a young team who\u2019s going to get it.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us, it took a full group effort to get a win and being locked in down the stretch and taking all their punches because I mean, they were throwing haymakers, and they were knocking down shots,\u201d he added. \u201cI think it showed great resilience, just kind of staying with it, not getting too out of it. Because, to be honest with you, we could have (given) them that game. And we could\u2019ve lost that a couple of times. We stayed with it, hit big shots and kept it pushing.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the biggest shots came from Suggs with 1:27 remaining in the extra period. Between his late 3-pointer and a pair of free throws, the Magic guard scored the final five points of the night to secure his team a victory.<\/p>\n

The Magic needed each and every point not only from Suggs but also Tristan da Silva<\/a> (who scored a career-high 26), Desmond Bane<\/a> (22), Wendell Carter Jr.<\/a> (19) and Paolo Banchero<\/a> (18) in order to win.<\/p>\n

Orlando\u2019s starting quintet scored 113 of the team\u2019s 136 points when the team improved to 3-2 in overtime games this season. The Magic improved to 8-0 when scoring 130-plus points and 8-2 when playing in the second game of a back-to-back.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust another day in the NBA,\u201d Banchero said in the locker room after the game. \u201cThat\u2019s all I\u2019ll say about that. But good win.\u201d<\/p>\n

The win kept the Magic (37-28) fifth in the East entering Friday\u2019s slate of games and in a virtual tie with No. 6 Miami (38-29), who hosts them Saturday. Just one game back is No. 7 Toronto, and 2 1\/2 games behind sit No. 8 Atlanta and No. 9 Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

Orlando last won six games in a row from Nov. 21-Dec. 1, 2024, but it\u2019s not the only team listed above that\u2019s gone streaking as of late.<\/p>\n

The Heat have won their last seven and the Hawks their past eight. Elsewhere in the Southeast, No. 10 Charlotte has won two in a row and is 8-2 in their last 10.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve just got to keep it rolling,\u201d Banchero said.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s game in Miami marks the fifth meeting of the regular season between the Heat and Magic, the latter of whom have won the first four. Orlando also took down Miami twice in the preseason.<\/p>\n

Something\u2019s got to give with both teams on respective winning streaks heading into Saturday night at Kaseya Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve just got to come out with a fight, right attitude and get ready for a 48-minute fight,\u201d Banchero said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been playing really well. So, this should be a good game.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Magic are aware they\u2019ll have to be sharper against a stronger opponent in Miami after allowing 52 points in the paint, being outscored 23-10 in fast-break scoring and turning the ball over 13 times against Washington.<\/p>\n

Including their last matchup on Jan. 28, the Magic have gone 14-6 in their last 20 games and the Heat 13-7.<\/p>\n

Orlando will be without Anthony Black (left lateral abdominal strain), Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management) and Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis game (Thursday) was kind of a reality check, too,\u201d da Silva said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be locked in every single time you\u2019re on the court, and I feel like in stretches we didn\u2019t do a really good job of that. If you do that against a team that has momentum and feels good about themselves, it can cost you the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve just got to come out and play our style of basketball, make sure that we know what we\u2019re doing, and then I feel like we have a shot against any team in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Up next \u2026<\/p>\n

Magic at Heat<\/p>\n

When: 8 p.m., Saturday, Kaseya Center<\/p>\n

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