Paolo Banchero dropped 20 points and eight boards, and the Orlando Magic outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves 132-120 on Wednesday night.
Desmond Bane added 18 points and six assists, Franz Wagner scored 17 points, and Goga Bitadze came off the bench with 14 points and 15 rebounds for the Magic, who have won four straight.
Orlando (44-36) up to seventh place in the tight race for playoff/play-in positions.
The Magic has two road games remaining (Chicago on Friday and Boston on Sunday), and they could finish anywhere between sixth and ninth in the Eastern Conference.
On the other hand, Terrence Shannon Jr. led the Timberwolves with a career-high 33 points. Jaden McDaniels, back in the lineup after missing six games with a left knee injury, added 18 points in 19 minutes.
Minnesota has lost five of seven, played without Anthony Edwards (right knee injury), and has four players who started Tuesday night’s win at Indiana, which clinched their Western Conference playoff spot.
Meanwhile, Julius Randle missed his first game of the season, and Rudy Gobert missed his fifth.
Wagner led the Magic break away from a 47-47 tie to a 63-53 halftime lead.
Jalen Suggs hit a couple of 3-pointers and a layup on a 22-6 burst that broke the game open in the third quarter. The Magic led by 24 at one point.
Shannon scored 29 points in the second half, hitting five of seven three-point shots, and made 11 of 14 shots overall and also had five assists.
Shannon scored 29 points in the second half, hitting five of seven 3-point shots. He made 11 of 14 shots overall and also had five assists.
Both teams will play road games on Friday: the Timberwolves visit Houston, while the Magic visit Chicago.
