Magic Fight, Beat Up on Timberwolves in Road Win
ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic (21-32) is celebrating after pulling out a hard-fought 127-120 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves (28-27) Friday night at Target Center.
The Magic fell behind early, but clawed back in the second quarter with a 37-23 run to take a seven-point lead into the locker rooms.
In the third quarter, the prime highlight of the game took place when Austin Rivers and Mo Bamba threw punches at one another and turned the game into a brawl.
Bamba and Rivers were ejected following the incident. Jalen Suggs, Nathan Knight and Taurean Prince were also ejected. Further discipline could be assessed in the coming days.
The Magic doubled its lead going into the fourth quarter and cruised from there. While No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero struggled making just three of 16 shots from the field for 10 points, the rest of the team picked up the slack. Other than Banchero, six other teammates scored in double figures, including a team-high 20 from Cole Anthony off the bench.
Tonight's game captured a glimpse of the identity the Magic has drawn this season. The team plays together, for each other and hardly ever are out of a game. It's the roots you're looking for when building a team, and this foundation is forming for the franchise as each game takes place.
The Magic closes out its four-game road trip Sunday afternoon against the Charlotte Hornets. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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