Franz Wagner scores 11 of Orlando’s franchise-record 50 points in the 1st quarter.
The Orlando Magic scored a franchise-record Wednesday night by scoring 50 points in the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks.
Franz Wagner led the way with 11 points as the Magic shot 64% (16-for-25) from the field, including six 3-pointers. Orlando led 50-22 after the opening quarter. The Magic went on to beat the Hawks 135-124 for their fourth straight victory.
It’s only the 9th time a team has scored 50 or more points in the first quarter.
“I kind of thought it was halftime almost,” Fultz said about the big first quarter. “No disrespect, but it was so crazy how well we were doing it. But it was so much fun. This game is so competitive that sometimes you lose sight of how much fun it is.
“Today we had a lot of fun, and a win like this is going to bring out a lot of team chemistry for sure.”
Orlando led by 29 at one point and by 28 at the end of the quarter.
“The thing I was most happy about is that they scored 22 points in that quarter,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “It was the defense that got it done in that quarter, and then from there obviously we let them score a little too much.”
The last time an NBA team scored 50 points during the first quarter was Portland on May 10, 2021 vs. Houston. Golden State scored an NBA-record 51 points in the first quarter against Denver on Jan. 15, 2019.
The most points scored by a team in an NBA quarter is 58, scored in the fourth quarter by the Buffalo Braves at Boston on Oct. 20, 1972.
| Date | Game (winning team in bold) | Points in 1st quarter (Team) | Outcome |
| Jan. 15, 2019 | Warriors vs. Nuggets | 51 (Warriors) | 142-111 |
| Dec. 14, 2022 | Hawks vs. Magic | 50 (Magic) | 135-124 |
| May 10, 2021 | Rockets vs. Blazers | 50 (Blazers) | 140-129 |
| Feb. 6, 2019 | Wizards vs. Bucks | 50 (Bucks) | 148-129 |
| Nov. 10, 1990 | Nuggets vs. Suns | 50 (Suns) | 173-143 |
| Nov. 16, 1989 | Magic vs. Bucks | 50 (Bucks) | 132-113 |
| April. 10, 1982 | Nuggets vs. Jazz | 50 (Jazz) | 151-136 |
| Feb. 5, 1982 | Nuggets vs. Celtics | 50 (Celtics) | 145-144 |
| Dec. 16, 1962 | Nationals vs. Warriors | 50 (Nationals) | 144-137 |
The Hawks, who have lost five of six, never thought they were in it after the first quarter.
“Giving up 50 points in one quarter is kind of ridiculous,” said Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu, who came off the bench with 15 points and 11 rebounds. “But that’s the NBA. We’re all here for a reason. Everybody can play, and you’ve got to be ready from the start. We just got ourselves in a big hole and couldn’t get out of it.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
