SALT LAKE CITY — Franz Wagner scored 10 of his 38 points after the Utah Jazz took a 96-95 lead in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, and the Orlando Magic pulled away for a 123-108 win. Utah has now lost 10 straight.
The 38 points matched Wagner’s career high, and it was his third straight game with at least 33. Orlando won consecutive games for the first time this season and finished its four-game road trip 2-2, improving to 4-7, while Utah fell to 1-11.
Magic coach Sean Sweeney said the Jazz built their defense around keeping Wagner out of the lane.
“They were really trying to be aggressive with him, trying to be physical, trying to keep him out of the paint,” Sweeney said. “And I thought he was relentless in his attack. He did a great job of really trying to make the right play when it presented itself.”
Wagner went 13-for-23 from the field and 9-for-10 at the line with 8 rebounds in 39 minutes. Sweeney said the late-game moments suit him. “I think he wants those situations that are tough,” Sweeney said. “He’s done a great job throughout the course of the season thus far, and tonight was no different.”
Utah Leads Into The Fourth
The game had 19 lead changes and 16 ties, and neither team led by more than seven through three quarters. Orlando’s 37-25 second quarter, with 13 points from Wagner, gave it a 66-59 halftime lead, but the Jazz went ahead on a Jaxson Hayes three-point play in the third and carried an 87-85 lead into the fourth.
“Resilience. I thought we had good poise and resilience,” Desmond Bane said. “Didn’t have a third quarter that we wanted, but fourth quarter we stayed with it. Was able to execute.”
Orlando Closes On A 28-12 Run
Brice Sensabaugh, who scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth, gave Utah its last lead with a pull-up 3-pointer at 8:01. Jevon Carter answered with a 3, and Wagner followed with a drive, a 29-foot 3, two free throws, and an assist on a Bane 3. Orlando outscored Utah 28-12 from Sensabaugh’s shot to the finish.
Wagner and Hayes drew a double technical foul just before that stretch, and Anthony Black was called for a technical during it. Wagner said the edge in the building made the finish more fun. “It was obviously fun to close out the game like that, especially when the crowd’s into it,” Wagner said. “So it was a good feeling.”
Bane finished with 25 points and a season-high seven 3-pointers in 11 attempts, and Orlando won the fourth quarter 38-21. Sweeney credited the Magic’s ball security and work on the glass.
“I think our turnovers were at 13 for the night,” Sweeney said. “So this is another game where we’ve done a good job taking care of that ball. We’ve done a great job of crashing. I think we had 28 second chance points.”
Orlando’s second-chance edge was 28-7. The Jazz made five more free throws than the Magic, 28 of 34, but shot 40.7% from the field to Orlando’s 47.1%.
Black added 22 points and 8 assists on the second night of a back-to-back, and Bane said he was “exactly who he’s been.” “I mean, he’s getting downhill. He’s distributing the ball. He’s taking on the challenge of guarding the other team’s best guard,” Bane said.
Peterson Leads Utah Again
Darryn Peterson led the Jazz with 22 points, his fourth straight game with at least 20, and went 6-for-6 at the line. Ace Bailey had 18 points, 7 rebounds, and a season-high 4 blocks, while Keyonte George went 3-of-13 but finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Utah played without Lauri Markkanen, listed on the official scorer’s report with a right hand fracture. Orlando was without Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, and Sweeney said the shorthanded roster shifts roles without lowering the standard.
“With the situation we’re in, with the number of bodies, you know, the opportunity may change for certain guys, but the responsibility doesn’t,” Sweeney said.
Orlando hosts the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday at 6 p.m. CT, while the Jazz visit the Houston Rockets that night at 7:30 p.m. CT before hosting the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
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