In a heart-pounding battle on Thursday night in Salt Lake City, the Orlando Magic emerged victorious with a thrilling 115-113 win over the Utah Jazz, courtesy of a go-ahead layup by Paolo Banchero with just 14 seconds remaining. Banchero had a remarkable performance, scoring a season-high 30 points, with ten consecutive points coming in the final minutes to secure the win for the Magic. His exceptional display also included nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks, showcasing his skills as the 2023 Rookie of the Year.
The Magic, on a four-game road trip against Western Conference teams, went 2-2 with this victory. Franz Wagner also made a significant contribution with 21 points, while Cole Anthony provided an impressive 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists coming off the bench.
For the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen led the scoring with 22 points and was pivotal in Utah’s late rally, hitting a crucial 3-pointer that briefly put his team ahead. Jordan Clarkson added 21 points, and John Collins secured a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
With 3.5 minutes remaining and trailing by seven points, the Jazz orchestrated a remarkable comeback. They scored eight consecutive points, including a pair of Clarkson free throws and back-to-back 3-pointers by Markkanen, which gave them a one-point lead, 113-112, with just 20.1 seconds left.
However, Paolo Banchero stepped up for the Magic, delivering a tough driving layup with 14 seconds on the clock, putting Orlando back in the lead, 114-113. The Jazz’s Talen Horton-Tucker had an attempt for a game-winner with 4.1 seconds left, but it fell short.
Anthony Black was selected to shoot free throws for the Magic after an injury to Wendell Carter Jr., and he split a pair with 1.3 seconds remaining. Utah had one last chance, but an errant pass by Kelly Olynyk on the inbound play left the Jazz unable to get a final shot off with 1.1 seconds left.
The game saw both teams taking leads during various points, with the Jazz initially taking a double-digit lead at 28-18. However, Orlando responded with a 13-1 run, securing a nine-point advantage and finishing the first half with a score of 66-58.
Orlando extended their lead in the second half, reaching their largest lead of the game at 75-61, and ultimately securing a hard-fought victory over the Jazz.
