Banchero scores 30, Magic beat Jazz
SALT LAKE CITY – Paolo Banchero scored 30 points, making the deciding layup with 14 seconds left, in the Orlando Magic’s 115-113 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.
Banchero added nine rebounds and five assists to help the Magic win for the third time in 15 games against Utah. Franz Wagner added 21 points, and Cole Anthony had 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
The Magic capped a four-game trip with their second road victory.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 22 points and seven rebounds. Jordan Clarkson had 21 points, six rebounds, and six assists, and John Collins added 20 points and 10 rebounds. Utah had won seven home games in a row against Orlando.
After trailing throughout the second half, Utah took the lead Markkanen’s 3pointer with 19.2 seconds left. Banchero quickly countered on the other end.
For the second consecutive game, Utah rode hot first-quarter shooting to stake an early double-digit lead. The Jazz shot 60% over the first 12 minutes. Collins led the way, scoring three baskets and adding three free throws to put Utah up 28-18.
Orlando erased the deficit in the second quarter behind an 18-3 run and sprinted out to a 63-54 lead. Wagner made back-to-back baskets to put Orlando in front and Banchero capped the lengthy spurt with a reverse layup. Utah opened a door for the Magic to charge ahead after missing eight straight shots and committing four turnovers over a five-minute stretch.
Spurs 132, Suns 121
PHOENIX – Rookie Victor Wembanyama scored a season-high 38 points, Zach Collins added 19 and the San Antonio Spurs held off Phoenix’s late charge.
The Suns erased a 27-point deficit, tying it at 116 with 4:21 left on Keita Bates-Diop’s 3-pointer, but the Spurs responding by scoring the next 12 points, including 10 from the precocious
Wembanyama.
In just his fifth NBA game, Wembanyama produced a handful of highlight plays, including flying down the lane for a dunk in the second quarter. The 7foot-4 Frenchman shot 15 of 26 from the field and had 10 rebounds.
But it was his poise down the stretch that might have been most impressive. The 19-year-old forward hit a 3-pointer, made three free throws, dunked and hit an 18-foot jumper during the decisive run.
Phoenix’s Devin Booker returned from a sprained ankle and nearly had a triple double with 31 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds. But it wasn’t enough for the Suns, who had 14 turnovers. Kevin Durant had 28 points.
It was the second time in three days the Spurs beat the Suns in Phoenix. San Antonio shocked Phoenix 115-114 on Tuesday night, erasing a 20-point deficit and scoring the winning basket after Keldon Johnson stole the ball from Durant
in the final seconds and made a contested layup with 1.2 seconds left.
76ers 114, Raptors 99
PHILADELPHIA – Joel Embiid had 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists and the Philadelphia 76ers won in their first game since trading James Harden.
Kelly Oubre Jr. and Tobias Harris each scored 23 points for the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey had 18.
Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 24 points and O.G. Anunoby had 16.
Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak with a 130-111 home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. The Raptors failed to build off the win and instead made it two losses already this season to the 76ers.
The 76ers may need another game or two before they finally adapt to a roster without Harden. They were used to playing without the 10-time All-Star – the 76ers went 2-1 without him – but coach Nick Nurse needs time to integrate the new additions.
Oubre’s ascension to the starting lineup in place of PJ Tucker, who was included in the Harden deal, left the Sixers with a thin bench. Marcus Morris and Nic Batum did not play in their first game since they were dealt by the Clippers. Robert Covington and K.J. Martin got some run in the final 90 seconds with the game in hand.
Pelicans 125, Pistons 116
NEW ORLEANS – CJ McCollum scored 33 points and the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans beat the Detroit Pistons with both teams playing for the second straight night.
New Orleans was playing without starting power forward Zion Williamson and starting wing Brandon Ingram, who are also two of their top scorers.
Williamson, who has been injury prone during his first four NBA seasons, was given the night off with the back-toback and the Pelicans also playing the second of three games in four nights.
Ingram missed his third straight game with right knee tendinitis.
Matt Ryan, a third-year pro out of Chattanooga, got his first-career start and scored a career-high 20 points, hitting the first four 3-pointers he took and finishing 6 of 8 from deep. Jonas Valanciunas had 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Herb Jones added 21 points and had a career-high four blocked shots.
Cade Cunningham had 22 points and 11 assists for Detroit, which dropped its third straight. Marcus Sasser hit five 3s and finished with 19 points, while Ausar Thompson scored 16 points.
One night after scoring 29 points in a 110-106 victory at Oklahoma City, McCollum picked up where he left off, scoring 25 points in the first half on an array of shots ranging from scoop set up by a euro step in the lane to, driving floaters off the glass or 3-pointers.
His early production helped New Orleans build a 25-point lead in the second quarter when Jones’ free throws made it 70-45.