Franz Wagner powered the Orlando Magic to a decisive 116-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night, leading with 29 points in the team’s home opener. His brother, Mo Wagner, contributed 18 points off the bench, giving Orlando the offensive edge they needed to secure an early-season win.
Paolo Banchero added 15 points and nine assists for the Magic, shaking off a slow start after going scoreless in the first half. Wendell Carter Jr. anchored Orlando’s defense, grabbing 10 rebounds to give the Magic a significant presence under the rim.
For the Nets, Cam Thomas scored a team-high 24 points, while Dennis Schroder added 20 points. Brooklyn briefly held the lead in the third quarter when Ben Simmons opened with a 7-0 run, pushing the Nets to a 53-49 advantage before Orlando took control again.
The Magic also showcased improved three-point shooting, hitting 33 shots from beyond the arc in their first two games while shooting a solid 41.8%. In Friday’s matchup, ten Orlando players sank at least one three-pointer, a significant boost for a team that averaged only 11 threes per game last season.
Brooklyn’s turnovers and a stark free-throw deficit also hindered their comeback attempts, with the team struggling to maintain ball control in the second half. Their opening road games have highlighted areas for improvement as they adapt to lineup rotations and battle early injuries.
