Paolo Banchero leads Magic's rally past Timberwolves

Field Level Media|published: Fri 2nd February, 22:49 2024

Feb 2, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) works around Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) in the first quarter at Target Center. credits: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Paolo Banchero scored a game-high 23 points on 10-for-20 shooting, and the Orlando Magic rallied for a 108-106 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night in Minneapolis.

Franz Wagner finished with 19 points for Orlando, which won its second game in a row. Wendell Carter Jr. posted a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Rudy Gobert scored 22 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead Minnesota. Anthony Edwards added 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 19.

Orlando outscored Minnesota by 10 in the fourth quarter to notch the two-point win.

The Magic opened the fourth quarter on an 18-5 run to grab a 98-93 lead.

Minnesota led 93-89 when Orlando scored the next nine points to go ahead by five. Moritz Wagner made two free throws to start the run, which included three free throws by Franz Wagner, two free throws by Carter and a layup by Banchero.

The Timberwolves pulled within 98-95 on a layup by Edwards with 5:03 remaining. Edwards' basket snapped a 3:22 scoring drought.

Orlando led the rest of the way. The Timberwolves pulled within 105-103 with 1:05 left, and the Magic held firm with two free throws by Banchero and another one by Jonathan Isaac to make it 108-103.

Edwards made a 3-pointer with two seconds left but by then it was too late.

Minnesota led 88-80 at the end of the third quarter.

Banchero made a mid-range jump shot to pull the Magic within 84-80 with 1:38 left in the third quarter. The Timberwolves responded with a driving layup by Edwards and a jump shot by Kyle Anderson to grab an eight-point lead entering the final 12 minutes.

The Timberwolves led 59-54 at the half.

Minnesota surged to a 12-point advantage at the end of the first quarter. Nickeil Alexander-Walker made a 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds remaining to make it 38-26.

In the second quarter, the Timberwolves led 51-37 after a finger-roll layup by Gobert with 5:30 to play.

Orlando closed the first half on a 17-8 run to cut the deficit to five.

—Field Level Media

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