The Orlando Magic ended their six-game home losing streak in style on Monday, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 118-106 and handing them their third consecutive loss.
Despite a strong first half, the Lakers collapsed in the third quarter, getting outscored 34-18—a trend that has plagued them recently.
Magic Shine as Lakers Fade
Franz Wagner led the Magic with 32 points and nine assists, while Paolo Banchero added 30 points and seven rebounds.
For the Lakers, Luka Dončić scored 32 points, while LeBron James contributed 24 points and eight assists, but it wasn’t enough to prevent another disappointing result.
“We look tired,” admitted Lakers coach JJ Redick.
“We weren’t able to sustain the level of intensity that we started the game with.”
Lakers in Freefall with Playoff Race Heating Up
Los Angeles has now lost seven of their last 10 games, and while they remain fourth in the Western Conference, they are just three games ahead of the seventh-seeded LA Clippers, who currently hold the first play-in tournament spot.
“I think we just got a little bit satisfied,” Dončić admitted. “We can’t afford that right now.”
A Growing Concern for LA
This loss came just two days after the Lakers were blown out 146-115 by the Chicago Bulls, where a similar second-half collapse saw them get outscored 39-27 in the third quarter.
Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith pointed to offensive struggles affecting their defensive energy, while LeBron James admitted the team is “going through it a little bit.”
Tough Road Ahead for the Lakers
With just 11 regular-season games remaining, seven of which are on the road, the Lakers must quickly rediscover their form if they want to avoid slipping into the play-in tournament.
“I think me and Bron, we should be the guys to do that,” Dončić said about stopping their recent slide.
“That’s on me. Obviously, I’ve got to do better, I’ve got to talk more.”
Now, the question is ‘Can the Lakers turn it around before it’s too late?’
The Los Angeles team will begin a four-game road trip on Wednesday in Indiana, followed by a rematch against Chicago on Thursday—games that could determine whether they stay in the top six or fall into a dangerous postseason position.
