Jalen Suggs posted a career-high 31 points, leading the Orlando Magic (13-7) to a commanding 133-119 victory over the Chicago Bulls (8-12) on Wednesday night.
Suggs was supported by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who dropped a season-high 24 points, including six 3-pointers, as the Magic extended their home win streak to nine games.
Franz Wagner chipped in with 21 points and six assists, helping Orlando solidify its dominance early.
The Magic built a 13-point lead in the first quarter, capitalizing on hot shooting from deep, converting six of 11 3-pointers in the opening period.
They surged ahead by as many as 27 points in the second half before sealing their fourth consecutive win and 10th in their last 11 outings.
Orlando’s defense was opportunistic, forcing 18 turnovers while tallying eight blocks and 10 steals. Despite some lapses, the Magic held Chicago at bay during key moments.
Ayo Dosunmu paced the Bulls with 21 points, while Nikola Vucevic contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds. However, the Bulls struggled to keep up with Orlando’s relentless pace and efficiency.
The Magic’s three-point shooting, a weakness earlier this season, was a notable strength in this matchup. Orlando finished 15-of-39 from beyond the arc. Caldwell-Pope’s back-to-back triples and a critical steal late in the second quarter provided momentum heading into halftime with a 19-point cushion.
The Bulls briefly cut the deficit to 10 in the second quarter, but a layup and foul drawn by Moritz Wagner, followed by Caldwell-Pope’s heroics, thwarted their comeback attempt. Chicago never regained footing as Orlando continued to apply pressure.
Lonzo Ball returned to action for the Bulls after missing 15 games with a wrist injury, finishing with six points in 15 minutes. Talen Horton-Tucker added a spark off the bench with 20 points, but Chicago fell to 8-12 on the season.
The win highlighted the Magic’s remarkable start at the Kia Center, where they remain unbeaten. Their 9-0 home record is the franchise’s best opening streak since 1998-99, with seven of those wins coming by double digits.
Orlando’s Moritz Wagner added 15 points off the bench, while Goga Bitadze dominated inside with 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Magic’s collective effort compensated for the absence of key players like Paolo Banchero and Gary Harris, who missed the game due to injuries.
