Since Jan. 28, there’s only one team in the league that’s racked up 14 wins.
And it’s the Orlando Magic, who are now 14-4 during this time following Wednesday’s 119-109 victory over the Washington Wizards in the nation’s capital.
The Magic came back from 21 down in the first half, making it their largest comeback victory of the season and tied for the sixth-largest in franchise history.
“We claimed our identity,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said. “We realized exactly who we need to be in order to come out and give ourselves a chance. In that first half, it was our offense that was affecting our defense. That second half, we realized that we’ve got to buckle down, sit down and guard, and the offense will come and flow if you guard the right way.”
Franz Wagner erupted for 28 points and Paolo Banchero filled up the box score with 25 points, six rebounds and 10 assists.
“It’s kind of our job to lead the charge and just play at a high level,” Banchero said about the responsibility he and Wagner have as leaders. “I know at least I didn’t do that in the first half. So I wanted to come out in the second half and switch it around, and turn my energy up.”
Even with little rest playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Magic had enough juice down the stretch to pull away from the Wizards, outscoring Washington 26-13 over the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter.
Moe Wagner scored 14 of his 16 points in the final frame. Jalen Suggs (19 points) and Cole Anthony (11 points) were the other two Orlando players who finished in double figures.
The Magic shot 53.7 percent from the field, their fifth straight game shooting 50-plus percent. That’s tied for the third-longest such streak in team history. The franchise record is eight, set in 1994. Earlier this season, they had a streak of six consecutive such performances.
They also knocked down 44.4 percent of their 3-pointers. Suggs hit five them, Franz made three and Anthony Black, in the starting lineup for 32nd time as a pro, buried two. Since Jan. 28, Orlando is tied for third in 3-point percentage (39.2 percent).
Once again as well, they controlled the glass, outrebounding Washington 42-35. In now 12 straight contests, the Magic have either outrebounded their opponent or had the same number as them.
Jordan Poole led the Wizards with 26 points off the bench, while Kyle Kuzma scored 25 and Deni Avdija had 14. After scoring 65 points in the first half, the Wizards were held to 18 in the third and 26 in the fourth.
Wendell Carter Jr. (sore right knee), Jonathan Isaac (left knee injury maintenance) and Gary Harris (right calf injury maintenance) were out for the Magic.
Orlando will be seeking its sixth straight victory on Friday when it visits the New York Knicks on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Golden State Warriors will have a chance to also notch their 14th win since Jan. 28 when they host the Milwaukee Bucks later on Wednesday night.