Magic Dominate Kings Wire to Wire, Clinch Postseason Spot

The Orlando Magic never trailed Saturday afternoon en route to a dominating 121-91 victory over the Sacramento Kings, officially clinching a spot in the postseason for a second consecutive season.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) passes the ball against Sacramento Kings guard/forward DeMar DeRozan (10) in the first quarter at Kia Center. | Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

ORLANDO, Fla. –– The Orlando Magic didn't waste time to claim Saturday afternoon as their own.

On the back of a 38-point first quarter, the Magic dominated wire-to-wire and dispersed the visiting Sacramento Kings, 121-91, in a game they led by as many as 35 points.

"Starting off the game well, making shots and getting stops is always good," Caleb Houstan said. "I think it kind of set us up for the rest of the game."

Orlando's 121 points is their most in a single game since it scored 130 in the first meeting with Sacramento on Feb. 5.

Less than 48 hours removed from a loss to the Mavericks that tipped off this current homestand, Orlando officially clinched at least a Play-In Tournament spot in style.

"I think they responded the right way to the other night, took the challenge on to play 48 minutes," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said postgame. "I think this group did a very good job of holding each other accountable and just continuing to play the right way, first and foremost defensively."

Orlando held Sacramento to 42 percent from the field and 25 percent from three, forcing 16 Kings turnovers in the process.

The Magic, now 36-39 with seven regular-season games to play, also leapfrogged the Atlanta Hawks for seventh in the East based on winning percentage.

Paolo Banchero's 24 points led the Magic's scoring. After a 37-20 third-quarter advantage gave Orlando a 32-point lead after three quarters, Banchero and the starters had earned the rest of the night off.

That, along with six missed free throws, ended his streak of consecutive 30-point games at five. But it was the 16th consecutive game of 20-plus points – the longest of his career.

"For his standard ... he probably wanted to knock some more free throws down," Mosley said. "But again, just continue to keep his effort going, staying the same the entire game. I think that's very important for him as we continue to move forward."

Franz Wagner followed Banchero with 21 points on 8-12 shooting. Off Orlando's bench, Houstan scored 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.

Orlando's two centers, Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze, each finished with 12 points. Bitadze added 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double.

"It was [a] good game," Bitadze said after. "We took care of the basketball, really paid attention to the details [pretty] much the whole game.

"We just have to keep building on this."

As a whole, Orlando made 18 threes and shot 49.4 percent from the field. The Magic recorded 31 assists on 44 made field goals – tied for the second-most in a game this year. Twice this season has Orlando tallied 32 assists in a single outing.

The Magic reserves, outscored 57-19 Thursday night versus Dallas, scored 53 points to the Kings' 37 on Saturday.

With the Magic's result comfortably secure long before the final buzzer, all 13 available players played – and scored – in the win.

"I thought our second unit was great," Mosley said. "I think when they stepped into the game, they had so much energy, so much pop. There was just a great energy about the way that they played off of each other, with one another."

The Magic also welcomed back Markelle Fultz with a tribute video during the first quarter of Saturday evening's contest. Before signing with the Kings earlier this season, Fultz played 201 career games over the previous five seasons with the Magic.

Fultz scored six points and added three rebounds and four assists in 14 minutes versus his former team.

Up Next

The Magic's three-game homestand concludes Monday, March 31 at 7 p.m. ET when the Los Angeles Clippers visit the Kia Center.

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