Raptors Get Last Laugh as Magic Drop 4th Straight Despite Banchero's 41

Ja'Kobe Walter's three-pointer with 0.5 seconds to play handed the Orlando Magic their fourth straight loss. Paolo Banchero scored 41 points to go with eight assists, eight rebounds and four steals.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) during the first quarter at Kia Center. | Mike Watters-Imagn Images

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tuesday looked like Paolo Banchero's night, but Ja'Kobe Walter and the Toronto Raptors had the last laugh.

Banchero scored 22 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter and, after he knocked down two free throws with 4.5 seconds to play, the Orlando Magic were one defensive stop from a much needed home victory.

But Walter's top-of-the-key heave, under pressure from Tristan da Silva, swished with a half-second to play to give the Raptors a 114-113 victory.

"They made some tough shots," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. "Tristan did everything but foul him."

Ja'Kobe Walter wild 3 for the win ‼️

The rook wins it for the @Raptors 😲 pic.twitter.com/um27XE7MeS

— NBA (@NBA) March 5, 2025

Orlando's fourth straight loss — and fifth in six games on this homestand — dropped the Magic to 29-34. Toronto swept the two-game series in Orlando by a combined three points.

For a second consecutive game, the Magic and Raptors were close for two-and-a-half quarters. On Sunday, a 27-6 run gave the Raptors a lead they would never relinquish. On Tuesday night, the Raptors' 20-4 run in the middle of the third quarter again forced the Magic to play from behind.

"When you give those types of runs up, you put yourself in a tough position to come back," Banchero said. "We were able to come back, but by that time, those guys on the other side had confidence. They're making shots and big plays. I think you saw some of their bench guys come in there and just let it rip, play confident and put us away."

"The third quarter has been a problem for us," Franz Wagner said. "I can't really tell you why, honestly, because we've been talking about it a lot but that's the way it's been and we've got to be more consistent."

Each game ended with a gut punch for the Magic – first Franz Wagner's missed layup to force overtime, then Walter's late triple.

In addition to his 41 points on 14-of-20 shooting, Banchero added eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Wagner had 28. It's the third time in the past month they've combined for at least 68 points in a loss.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Tristan da Silva (four three-pointers) each finished with 12.

Depth was thin at guard for the Magic. Already down Jalen Suggs because of recent knee surgery, Cole Anthony sat out with a left big toe strain.

Cory Joseph joined the usual starters in his place, comprising the Magic's 23rd different starting lineup this season.

Orlando shot 48.2 percent from the field and 15-of-36 from three — the second time in seven games this season that the Magic have lost when eclipsing 40 percent from three.

Toronto had six players in double figures, led by RJ Barrett with 21. A.J. Lawson, a two-way contract player appearing in only his seventh game, scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a late triple that put the Raptors up three with 41.8 to play.

But Toronto dominated the glass 48-35, including 13 offensive rebounds and 24 second-chance points. The Raptors shot 35 free throws to Orlando's 23.

"Those are the small margins in a game that's close," Mosley said.

Up Next

The Magic's seven-game homestand concludes at 7 p.m. ET Thursday, March 6, against the Chicago Bulls.

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