Magic Continue Their Win Streak Against the Timberwolves In Orlando 132-120

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic are peaking at exactly the right time.

Powered by a balanced attack and a pivotal third-quarter surge, Orlando rolled past the Minnesota Timberwolves 132-120 on Wednesday night at the Kia Center, securing their fourth consecutive victory and improving to 44-36 on the season.

With the win, the Magic have pulled themselves up to seventh place in the fiercely competitive Eastern Conference playoff race, winning six of their last eight contests. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves opted to play it safe with star guard Anthony Edwards, sitting him out due to lingering right-knee inflammation as they prioritize his health ahead of the postseason.

The game was a tight contest early on, deadlocked at 47-47 midway through the second quarter. However, Franz Wagner (17 points) hit back-to-back buckets to spark a late first-half push, giving Orlando a 63-53 advantage heading into the locker room.

The game broke wide open in the third quarter. Jalen Suggs caught fire, scoring eight points—including a pair of 3-pointers and a driving layup—during a massive 22-6 run that extended Orlando’s lead to 89-70. By the end of the third period, the Magic held a commanding 101-83 lead, eventually going up by as many as 24 points in the final frame.

“That 22-6 stretch was just pure effort and execution,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Jalen brings an energy that is entirely contagious. He hit those back-to-back threes, and you could just feel the entire building shift. I’m also incredibly proud of Goga [Bitadze] coming off the bench and commanding the glass with 15 boards. Total team win.”

Despite missing Edwards, Minnesota found a massive offensive spark off the bench in Terrence Shannon Jr. The electric guard poured in a game-high 33 points, catching fire in the second half where he scored 29 of his total points and connected on 5 of 7 attempts from beyond the arc. However, the deficit was simply too much for Minnesota to overcome.

“With Ant out, I knew we needed guys to step up and create offense,” Shannon Jr. said. “My teammates trusted me, kept putting the ball in my hands, and the rim just started looking really big in that second half. It hurts that we couldn’t get the win, but I’m just trying to stay ready when my number is called.”

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch praised the guard’s breakout performance, despite the defensive lapses that cost them the game.

“We let them get too comfortable in transition during the third quarter, and you can’t spot a good team a 24-point lead,” Finch noted. “I will say, Terrence was phenomenal tonight. Dropping 29 in a half is no small feat—he kept us fighting until the final buzzer.”

Paolo Banchero led the way for Orlando’s starting unit, finishing with 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists on an ultra-efficient 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. Desmond Bane added 18 points and six assists, while Goga Bitadze anchored the second unit with a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double.

For the Magic, the focus remains locked on the standings as the regular season winds down.

“We know exactly what’s at stake right now,” Banchero said after the win. “Everyone in this locker room is locked in on the standings, but we’re taking it one quarter at a time. Getting these late-season victories at home is huge for our confidence. When we’re healthy and playing unselfish basketball like we did tonight, we believe nobody is going to want to see us in the postseason.”