Magic Beat Lakers 110-109
The Orlando Magic escaped with a 110-109 buzzer-beater win over the Lakers after a failed sideline play between LeBron James and Luka Dončić. Lakers' DeAndre Ayton vented frustration post-loss: "They're trying to make me Clint Capela, I'm not no Clint Capela!"
- The victory for Orlando marks their fourth consecutive win against the Lakers. - Magic forward Paolo Banchero led all scorers with 36 points, adding 10 rebounds and 6 assists. His teammate, Wendell Carter Jr., scored the game-winning basket with seven seconds remaining and finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds. - The loss dropped the Lakers to 4-4 on their eight-game homestand and marked their fourth loss in the last six games. Conversely, the Magic have won six of their last eight contests. - Deandre Ayton's comparison to Clint Capela comes as Ayton is averaging 8.5 rebounds per game this season. Capela, in a backup role with the Houston Rockets, is averaging 3.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. - For the Lakers, Luka Dončić finished with 22 points and 15 assists, while LeBron James scored 21. - The failed final play comes amid recent analysis from NBA insider Brian Windhorst, who stated that the trio of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves have a negative rating when on the floor together and are "not a good team." - This is the first full season for the pairing of James and Dončić, who was traded to the Lakers in February 2025. Ayton was an offseason addition before the 2025-26 season began.
