The Orlando Magic defeated the Phoenix Suns 115-110 on Sunday night, led by Jalen Suggs, who scored 26 points, including 14 in a decisive fourth quarter. The Magic extended their perfect home record to 17-0 for the season.
Suggs’ clutch performance included back-to-back three-pointers during a 1:47 stretch, helping Orlando seize a 103-100 lead that they maintained through the final buzzer.
Goga Bitadze contributed 21 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, including a critical tip-in with 13.1 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 25 points and seven assists, while Tyus Jones added 21 points. Bradley Beal scored 18 but fouled out with 1:05 left. The Suns, still missing Kevin Durant due to injury, have now lost nine of their last ten games without him.
Despite a slow start, the Magic bench provided crucial support, scoring 46 points. Cole Anthony and Moritz Wagner played key roles, combining for 24 points and sparking a comeback after Orlando trailed by 12 in the opening quarter.
Phoenix began the game strong, hitting 11 of their first 18 three-pointers, but turnovers plagued them in the fourth quarter. The Suns committed seven turnovers in the final period, allowing the Magic to capitalize and pull away.
Orlando showcased depth by playing ten players for at least 15 minutes, a necessity with forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner sidelined due to injuries. Despite these absences, the team has maintained a ten-game winning streak at home.
Bitadze’s dominance on the boards proved vital, as he grabbed nine offensive rebounds, contributing to Orlando’s 14 offensive boards overall. The Magic edged out Phoenix in rebounding 44-39, demonstrating their resilience against a Suns team missing key players in the paint.
The Magic’s victory was a display of balanced scoring and defensive pressure. The team also registered 11 steals, including three from Jett Howard and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Their defensive efforts disrupted Phoenix’s flow and compensated for Orlando’s struggles at the free-throw line, where they shot 63.3%.
Phoenix will need to regroup as they await the return of Durant, whose presence is critical for turning their fortunes around. The Suns are now 12-11 on the season and have struggled to close out games without their star forward.
