How Magic cracked code to win 2nd straight vs. Wizards

ORLANDO, Fla. -- After a winless 5-game trip, the Magic found a formula to victory without Paolo Banchero (torn right abdominal muscle) and Wendell Carter Jr. (left foot plantar fasciitis) on Friday at Kia Center.

That recipe — which included paint points, stout defense and help from everyone — was replicated when Jamahl Mosley‘s squad captured their second straight home win Sunday, 121-94 over the Wizards (2-6).

Orlando totaled 44 points in the paint, scored 26 off 16 Wizards turnovers and saw its bench outscore Washington’s 64-20.

The Magic (5-6) will remain at Kia Center to host the Hornets on Tuesday as part of East Group A action in the NBA Cup, the league’s in-season tournament.

Starting 5

Mosley stuck with the same first group — Jalen Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Tristan da Silva and Goga Bitadze — for the fourth consecutive game.

Suggs (5 points) found himself in foul trouble early that limited him to just 6 minutes of action in the first half with three quick fouls.

With Suggs not on the court much, Wagner (team-high 23) stepped up as a playmaker to record 7 assists when he found success kicking the ball out to shooters on the perimeter off his drives to the basket.

That included Caldwell-Pope (8 points), who drilled a triple from the left wing to give Orlando a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter. Washington ended the first half on a 17-6 run and trailed by just 5 at the break.

Bitadze was active on both ends in the paint early and often when he racked up 10 points and 12 rebounds to record his second double-double of the season.

Second unit

Jonathan Isaac (5 points, 3 rebounds) was made available pre-game after playing just 9 minutes Friday due to right hamstring tightness.

He joined Anthony Black, Cole Anthony, Gary Harris and Moe Wagner in Orlando’s second unit, which opened the floor together to begin the second quarter.

Black found his spots to attack with 12 points and dished out 4 assists, including a second-quarter pass from mid-court to Franz Wagner right at the rim.

Moe Wagner sank a pair of triples in the first half and totaled 12 of his 16 points by halftime.

Anthony, who fell out of the two-deep rotation on the recent trip, returned to the second unit Sunday. He totaled 16 points, which included 8-of-8 shooting at the foul line.

Rookie watch

In his fifth straight start of his young career, da Silva made two 3-pointers off the catch in the first half.

The No. 18 pick added 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals to go with his 11 points in 29 minutes.

Magic host ‘Seats for Soldiers’

The Magic and L3Harris Technologies provided tickets to Sunday’s game for more than 2,200 active and retired military personnel and their families.

It marked the 21st year the franchise hosted ‘Seats for Soldiers Night,’ which included veterans, active military and their families from all branches from MacDill Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Recruiting District, Tampa Army Recruiting Battalion, 143rd Sustainment Company Army Reserves and Orlando Marine Recruiting Station, along with service-member and veteran-serving organizations including Blue Star Families, Camaraderie Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, State of Hope and Soldiers’ Angels.

Up next …

Magic vs. Hornets

When: 7, Tuesday, Kia Center

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida