ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic were in control for the first half of their matchup vs. the Sacramento Kings Saturday at Amway Center.
Then the third quarter happened.
Specifically, a Magic turnover-heavy third (9 giveaways) led to Orlando blowing a 20-point lead and the Kings taking an 83-77 lead to end the third that ballooned to 92-82 early in the fourth.
The Magic dug deep, leaning on Paolo Banchero’s fourth-quarter takeover (10 points, two assists in the quarter) to come back and force overtime.
But the Magic were out-executed in the extra period, falling to the Kings, 126-123, after De’Aaron Fox hit a 31-foot buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give Sacramento (3-5) the win.
Banchero finished with 33 points (14-of-26 shooting), 15 rebounds and four assists for his first 30-point game.
With Banchero’s first 30-point showing coming in his 10th game, he became the second-fastest player in team history to record a 30-point game only behind Shaquille O’Neal (three games).
Franz Wagner finished with 31 points, six assists and four rebounds. The Magic (2-8) leaned on Wagner late after putting the ball in Banchero’s hands in the fourth, with 10 of Wagner’s points coming in overtime.
Wendell Carter Jr. added 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 39 minutes before fouling out in overtime. Bol Bol had a career-high 23 points to go with seven rebounds and two assists.
Fox led the Kings with 37 points and five assists. He made three consecutive 2-pointers in overtime that gave the Kings a 112-111 lead with 3:38 remaining.
Harrison Barnes knocked down a corner 3 and Domantas Sabonis (25 points, 11 rebounds, six assists) knocked down a free throw after getting fouled on Barnes’ 3 to take a 116-111 lead.
The Magic battled back again, with a Chuma Okeke steal and dunk with 6.6 seconds remaining to tie the game at 23 in overtime.
But Fox hit the dagger Amway to send the Magic back to their locker room without the win.
The Magic fully controlled the first half, limiting turnovers and getting into the paint to have a 65-47 lead at halftime. But they didn’t hold on to the lead and failed to secure their first winning streak.
Orlando went 4 of 23 (17.4%) on 3s compared to the Kings’ 15 of 40 (37.5%) and turned the ball over 18 times for 26 Sacramento points.
Saturday was the first time Magic coach Jamahl Mosley and Kings coach Mike Brown were the head coaches in the same game.
Mosley was an assistant coach on Brown’s Cleveland Cavaliers coaching staff during the 2013-14 season.
They first connected through legendary player development coach Tim Grgurich.
“I’m so excited he’s getting an opportunity,” Brown said of Mosley pregame. “It’s more than well deserved. He’s got this team competing. It’s a young team. He’s got them competing at a high level. Fantastic job of what he’s doing and a great selection by the Orlando Magic.
“I learned a lot from him even though he’s a younger coach. We’re still in touch to this day. That relationship has been there for a long time. We were both raised by coach Grgurich, especially in the offseason. I was with Grgurich first so I think of Jamahl as my little brother.”
Brown was an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors from 2016-22 before becoming the Kings’ head coach during the offseason.
“I’m so excited for Mike to get another opportunity,” Mosley said. “He’s a great coach. He’s been a mentor for years. The things I learned under him — his attention to detail, his level of communication with players, coaches and staff and his spirit of bringing that same energy and passion to the game every day. He was a great mentor for me to have.”
