Speaking prior to tip-off, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley shared two things he wanted to see from his team when it took to the court against the Nets inside Barclays Center on Wednesday night less than 24 hours after falling to the Wizards in the nation’s capital.
Mosley challenged his team to take care of the basketball and play with better energy and effort from the jump — two key factors that led to Orlando‘s demise at Washington.
The Magic not only failed to take care of the ball when they turned it over 18 times but nearly lost the game when Brooklyn, which trailed by as many as 18 points, outscored Orlando 29-14 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
With Brooklyn leading by two points with 2.1 seconds left in the extra period, Paolo Banchero (30 points) hit a 3-pointer to lift Orlando past the Nets 104-103 as time expired.
While it was Michael Porter Jr. who led the way for the Nets (11-23) with a game-high 34 points, it was No. 8 overall pick Egor Demin scored 10 of his 18 points in overtime, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot.
But Banchero got the last laugh in the one-point win, converting the fifth buzzer-beating 3-pointer in Magic history.
The Magic (21-17) return home when they host the Sixers on Friday at Kia Center.
Banchero up-and-down
The Magic forward appeared to be a step behind in the first quarter when he shot 2 for 5 from the floor and accounted for three of Orlando’s six first turnovers.
Banchero notched eight points in the second quarter and added nine more in the third quarter when he scored 30-plus points for the third time this season and recorded his team-leading 11th double-double with 14 rebounds.
Although he shot 7 for 8 at free throw line, the Magic forward ended with nine turnovers. But it was his last bucket that counted the most.
Rest of starters
While it took a moment for Banchero to get going on offense, Tristan da Silva wasted no time to make his mark on the contest.
The second-year pro made his first four shots and notched nine points in the opening frame, including the team’s first 3-pointer. Da Silva cooled off, scoring just five more points the rest of the night.
Wendell Carter Jr. was active on both ends of the floor when he racked up 20 points, six rebounds, three assists with a steal and a block in 39 minutes.
Desmond Bane and Anthony Black combined for just 14 points when they shot a combined 6 for 25 from the floor, including 2 for 10 from distance.
Orlando’s starting lineup scored 78 of the team’s 104 total points.
Rookie watch
Playing on his 21st birthday, Magic forward Noah Penda hit back-to-back 3s early in the second quarter after he missed his first five shots from the floor.
The second-round pick later added a corner three late in the third frame when he recorded a double-double by way of 13 points and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes, playing crucial time down the stretch.
No. 25 pick Jase Richardson was considered questionable to enter the game late in the first quarter due to a sore left ankle after scoring a career-high 20 points in 26 minutes on Tuesday night at Washington. Richardson never entered the game.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com