Magic Set Franchise Record For 3-Pointers In Loss vs. Kings
ORLANDO - Lost in the shuffle of a back-and-forth game that went into double overtime was a historic performance from the Orlando Magic in their 138-135 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday at the Golden 1 Center.
The Magic (19-15) made a franchise-record 25 3-pointers against Sacramento (20-13). Orlando's previous record was 23 3s in a game, which it made on two separate occasions in wins over the Kings on Jan. 13, 2009, and the Miami Heat on April 10, 2022.
Paolo Banchero led the way for an undermanned Magic team with a career-high 43 points, and he shot 6 for 9 from beyond the arc. Jalen Suggs scored 24 points and made six 3s, and Caleb Houstan scored 15 points, shooting 4 of 6 from the 3-point line. Chuma Okeke and Wendell Carter Jr. each made three 3s, while Gary Harris Jr., Franz Wagner and Anthony Black made one.
Caleb Houstan drives to the basket vs. the Sacramento Kings.
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Kings head coach Mike Brown lauded the performance of Banchero for a team that was down several key players.
"If Banchero can shoot like that, look out," Brown said after the game. "He's a talented, strong, young individual who's just getting better and better and better. I give him a lot of credit."
An already depleted Magic team by injuries was dealt a pair of devastating blows when Wagner and Harris were forced to leave early. Wagner suffered a sprained right ankle in the first quarter, while Harris strained his right calf in the second quarter.
Orlando was already without Cole Anthony (quad), Jonathan Isaac (hamstring), Joe Ingles (ankle) and Markelle Fultz (knee), all of whom were ruled out before the game.
Given the uphill battle Orlando had to climb against one of the better teams in the Western Conference, Banchero was proud of his team and the players who stepped up despite ending up on the losing end of a thriller.
"Proud is an understatement, Banchero said. "Injuries are kind of kicking our ass right now. Next man up mentality and those guys stepped in and did a tremendous job. They kept us in the game."
The Magic will look to snap its three-game skid when it faces the reigning NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets on Friday at the Ball Arena at 9 p.m. ET.
