The Los Angeles Lakers had their six-game winning streak snapped and lost their first home game of the season on Thursday, and it happened in stunning fashion. The Lakers led the Orlando Magic by two with 18.1 seconds to play, and had Anthony Davis going to the free throw line with a chance to make it a two-possession game.
Davis, who made nearly 80% of his free throws over the past two-plus seasons, missed both, leaving the door open for Orlando. Franz Wagner, who has been on a scoring spree lately, took advantage by hitting what proved to be the game-winning stepback 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left. Davis had a chance to redeem himself on the other end but didn’t pull iron on an errant catch-and-ditch.
With the loss, the Lakers dropped to 7-1 at home and 10-5 overall, still good enough for the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference entering play on Friday. Despite the two crucial missed free throws, Davis was again spectacular for the Lakers with 39 points, nine rebounds and three blocks on 14-of-22 shooting. He made 10 of his 11 free throws before those last two.
LeBron James, again, was also stellar with 31 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Fourteen of his points came in the fourth quarter, as did three of his five 3-pointers. Rookie Dalton Knecht, coming off an absolute heater on Tuesday when he hit 37 points, including 22 straight, and nine 3-pointers, had another solid outing with 17 points and three more 3s.
But it wasn’t enough, because Wagner not only hit the winner, but burned the Lakers all night with 37 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter. Wagner has scored at least 31 points in four of his last six games as he continues to lead an Orlando team that has quietly won seven of its last eight games.
The Magic lost four straight after Paolo Banchero went out with a torn oblique in late October, and the offense seemed to be tanking. Not so much anymore. During this eight-game stretch, Wagner averaged over 28 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals per game. He has become over-aggressive in Banchero’s absence, taking at least 23 shots in five of his last six games.
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