Franz Wagner scored 29 points (15 in the fourth quarter), and the Orlando Magic held off the Portland Trail Blazers 109-106.
The Magic never trailed and led by as many as 19. The Magic led 65-50 with 7:34 left in the third quarter, and the Trail Blazers got within 107-106 with 24 seconds left.
The Trail Blazers got within 107-106 on Damian Lillard’s 3 free throws with 24 seconds to play, but Markelle Fultz answered with 2 free throws, and the Trail Blazers got no closer. They had the ball down 3 after a timeout, but Anfernee Simons missed a 33-foot pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied it.
During clutch time, the Magic outscored the Trail Blazers 7-3.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 20 points (9 during a 15-0 run in the third quarter) and 10 rebounds, and Fultz added 18 points and 7 assists on 7 for 8 shooting. Franz Wagner scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter.
For the Trail Blazers, Lillard scored 30 points, and Jusuf Nurkić added 22 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high 4 steals.
The Magic shot 51.3% from the field and 37.5% from 3 to the Trail Blazers’ 48.3% and 17.1%. The Trail Blazers outscored the Magic 70-48 in the paint. The Magic did not make a field goal in the last 3:35. The Magic’s starters outscored the Trail Blazers 56-35 in 18 minutes together.