Orlando looks for a second straight win without star Paolo Banchero when the Magic host the Washington Wizards on Sunday night.
Banchero is out for several more weeks after suffering a torn oblique muscle at the end of October. The Magic ended a five-game losing streak, beating the New Orleans Pelicans 115-88 on Friday night at home.
Fourth-year Magic forward Franz Wagner has averaged 21.4 points in the past five games to help make up for Banchero’s absence.
“I think he’s just such a competitor,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said about Wagner. “He’s going to do whatever it takes to put this team on his back and figure out a way to win. We’ve asked him to be aggressive and make the right plays and I think that’s what we have to continue to ask from him every night.”
Even with Banchero in the lineup, the Magic were having issues on offense. They rank 28th in the NBA in scoring at 106.7 points and are shooting just 44.1 percent from the floor. Jalen Suggs has become the Magic’s No. 2 offensive option, averaging 16.3 points this season.
But for now, it’s all about Wagner shouldering the load.
“Our coaches have done a great job of watching film with him,” Mosely said. “Last year, multiple times, he was getting double-teamed and he made the right read, saw the right opening. I think the more he sees it, the more he will recognize it and make the right plays.”
The young Wizards have struggled defensively and lost their past three games. They are allowing 123.9 points per game, which ranks second to last in the league.
The fewest points the Wizards have allowed this season is 118. The most points Orlando has scored this season is 119.
No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr is averaging just 9.6 points and 6.7 boards and hasn’t quite found his groove. Washington has gotten a boost in the past two games from rookie Kyshawn George, who has scored a combined 37 points and made nine threes in that span.
“We’ve talked about how sometimes you make or miss shots and now he’s making the ones he missed,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. “He’s got a good rhythm. He’s able to read the game.”
“I know not a lot of rookies have this opportunity to be on the court, number one, and two, have a coaching staff that pushes you to be aggressive,” George said. “I think my teammates and my coaches have helped me keep my confidence up.”
Jordan Poole is leading the Wizards with 20.7 points per game. One bright spot for Washington has been the play of second-year forward Bilal Coulibaly, who has nearly doubled his scoring output from last season and has raised his shooting percentage from 43.5 to 53.9 percent this season, all while continuing to draw tough defensive assignments.
“That’s one of the things we really expect from Bilal,” Keefe said. “He has the defensive versatility to guard multiple guys. We’re going to continue to do that with him because that’s one of his strengths.”
