Game ID: 22300407
Orlando Magic @ Washington Wizards
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
WAS 33 27 28 31 119ORL 33 30 35 29 127
ORL @ WAS ScoutingORL @ WAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
WAS availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Shamet missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 16 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Muscala back 12/06 after 3, 13 min since (91% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/08 after 9, 7 min since (54% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/18 · back-to-backOUT Shamet missed 6 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 17 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 6 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/08 after 9, 7 min since (54% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/21 · 2 days' restOUT Shamet missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 18 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 2 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
WAS availability going into 12/22 · back-to-backOUT Shamet missed 8 since 12/06, returns tonight: 13 min (80% of 16)
OUT Wright missed 19 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 3 since 12/17, returns tonight: 8 min (58% of 13)
OUT Davis missed 8 since 12/06, out tonight
WAS availability going into 12/26 · 3 days' restOUT Wright missed 20 since 11/12, returns tonight: 13 min (97% of 14)
OUT Davis missed 9 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 13 min since (80% of 16)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 8 min since (58% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Davis missed 10 since 12/06, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 10 min since (66% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 13 min since (97% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 8 min since (58% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 10 min since (66% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 13 min since (97% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 7 min since (53% of 13)
BACK Davis back 12/27 after 10, 6 min since (51% of 12)
WAS availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 12 min since (78% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 15 min since (109% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 7 min since (53% of 13)
BACK Davis back 12/27 after 10, 6 min since (51% of 12)
WAS availability going into 1/03 · 2 days' restOUT Gallinari missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 4 since 12/26, returns tonight: 9 min (62% of 14)
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 5 min (42% of 12)
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 14 min since (86% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 16 min since (115% of 14)
ORL availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 19 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 16 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 15 min since (90% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/20 · 2 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 20 since 11/04, returns tonight: 23 min (91% of 26)
OUT Fultz missed 17 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 15 min since (94% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 27 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Fultz missed 18 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 2 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 23 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 15 min since (89% of 16)
NEW Black 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 24 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Fultz missed 19 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 3 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 22 min since (87% of 26)
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 14 min since (88% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 24 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Suggs missed 2 since 12/21, returns tonight: 29 min (106% of 28)
OUT Fultz missed 20 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 4 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 20 min since (80% of 26)
NEW Black 16 to 23 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Fultz missed 21 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 5 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 12/26 after 2, 29 min since (106% of 28)
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 21 min since (80% of 26)
NEW Black 16 to 24 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Fultz missed 22 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 6 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 12/26 after 2, 29 min since (105% of 28)
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 21 min since (81% of 26)
NEW Black 16 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Gar. Harris missed 2 since 12/27, returns tonight: 32 min (134% of 24)
OUT Fultz missed 23 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 7 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 12/26 after 2, 30 min since (107% of 28)
NEW Black 16 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Houstan 13 to 19 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Fultz missed 24 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 8 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 4 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Queen missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 12/26 after 2, 29 min since (107% of 28)
BACK Gar. Harris back 12/31 after 2, 32 min since (134% of 24)
NEW Black 16 to 27 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. 3 days' rest. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 23 and F. Wagner at 19 a game. Without Suggs (2 straight), Fultz (20 straight), Ingles (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-8 and the arc, Washington at 39 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Washington 118, Orlando 117, Orlando keeping it close.
12/17 @ PHX 108-112 — WAS notes
WAS lost 108-112. WAS shot 41% (39 of 95) to PHX's 46%, 14 of 46 from three, and got to the line 20 times to PHX's 30. WAS turned it over 10 times to PHX's 17. The glass went 44-54 against them. Gafford led with 26 (10 of 13, 6 of 7 at the line); Jones added 22, Kuzma 17. Q1 was theirs, 29-21, but the other 3 periods went 91-79 against them. They led by as many as 16. Kispert's -16 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 @ SAC 131-143 — WAS notes
WAS lost 131-143. WAS shot 52% (44 of 85) to SAC's 53%, 18 of 38 from three. Poole led with 28 (10 of 18, 8 of 13 from three); Kuzma added 27, Jones 16. Q4 was theirs, 40-31, the deficit cut from 21 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 112-91 against them. Gafford's -27 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 @ POR 118-117 — WAS notes
WAS won 118-117. WAS shot 50% (42 of 84) to POR's 45%, 12 of 30 from three, and went to the line 32 times to POR's 23 — 22 points from the stripe to their 17. The glass went 37-51 against them. Kuzma led with 32 (11 of 22, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Jones added 24, Gafford 16. The hinge was Q1, 33-24: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 18.
12/22 @ GSW 118-129 — WAS notes
WAS lost 118-129. WAS shot 45% (44 of 97) to GSW's 48%, 11 of 35 from three. The glass went 39-57 against them. Poole led with 25 (7 of 21, 3 of 12 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Kispert added 18, Gafford 15. Q4 was theirs, 35-28, the deficit cut from 18 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 101-83 against them. Kispert's -20 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs ORL 119-127 — WAS notes
WAS lost 119-127. WAS shot 49% (43 of 87) to ORL's 53%, 16 of 42 from three. Poole led with 30 (11 of 20, 6 of 11 from three); Jones added 22, Kuzma 17. Q4 was theirs, 31-29, the deficit cut from 10 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 98-88 against them. Poole's -18 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/27 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Poole at 22 and Kuzma at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Barnes at 24 and Siakam at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Freeman-Liberty (27 straight), Young (4 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Toronto wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been minus-1 a night and Washington minus-8 and the defense, Toronto allowing 117 a night to Washington's 126. Call it Toronto 119, Washington 117, Washington keeping it close.
12/29 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 130, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Poole at 22 and Kuzma at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Cam. Johnson at 20 and Thomas at 18 a game. Without Simmons (24 straight), Walker IV (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been minus-1 a night and Washington minus-9 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 13 times a game to Brooklyn's 10. Call it Brooklyn 121, Washington 120, Washington keeping it close.
12/31 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 19 and Poole at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Young at 27 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Hunter (4 straight), Krejčí (3 straight), Fernando (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-1 a night and Washington minus-11. Call it Washington 121, Atlanta 120, Atlanta keeping it close.
1/03 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 18 free throws a game; Allen at 21 and LeVert at 19 a game. Without Garland (8 straight), Eva. Mobley (12 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Kuzma at 20 and Poole at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-3 a night and Washington minus-11 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 114 a night to Washington's 124. Call it Cleveland 120, Washington 113.
12/17 @ BOS 97-114 — ORL notes
ORL lost 97-114. ORL shot 38% (34 of 89) to BOS's 47%, 11 of 36 from three, and went to the line 24 times to BOS's 8 — 18 points from the stripe to their 7. ORL turned it over 8 times to BOS's 14. The glass went 43-55 against them. Banchero led with 36 (14 of 30, 4 of 10 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Suggs added 13. Q1 was theirs, 31-27, but the other 3 periods went 87-66 against them. They led by as many as 10. Harris's -26 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/20 vs MIA 106-115 — ORL notes
ORL lost 106-115. ORL shot 46% (41 of 89) to MIA's 48%, 9 of 36 from three. The glass went 49-39 for them. Anthony led with 20 (8 of 13, 2 of 5 from three); F. Wagner added 15, Suggs 11. Q4 was theirs, 34-26, the deficit cut from 17 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 89-72 against them. Suggs's -23 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 @ MIL 114-118 — ORL notes
ORL lost 114-118. ORL took 9 more shots (99 to 90), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to MIL's 42%, 8 of 33 from three, and got to the line 23 times to MIL's 35. ORL turned it over 7 times to MIL's 13. F. Wagner led with 29 (13 of 23, 1 of 6 from three); Banchero added 23, M. Wagner 21. Q4 was theirs, 32-27, the deficit cut from 9 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 91-82 against them. Carter Jr.'s -27 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ IND 117-110 — ORL notes
ORL won 117-110. ORL shot 53% (39 of 73) to IND's 52%, 6 of 18 from three, and went to the line 41 times to IND's 13 — 33 points from the stripe to their 9. Banchero led with 34 (11 of 20, 12 of 16 at the line); F. Wagner added 24, Harris 15. The hinge was Q1, 36-27: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 15.
12/26 @ WAS 127-119 — ORL notes
ORL won 127-119. ORL shot 53% (49 of 93) to WAS's 49%, 12 of 26 from three. F. Wagner led with 28 (10 of 17, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Banchero added 24, Black 23. The hinge was Q3, 35-28: a lead of 3 became 10, and the lead reached 17. F. Wagner was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/27 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; Banchero at 25 and F. Wagner at 21 a game. Without Fultz (21 straight), Ingles (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Embiid at 41 and Maxey at 26 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Batum (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 40 percent from three to Orlando's 31 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 107 a night to Orlando's 115. Call it Philadelphia 117, Orlando 111.
12/29 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 24 and Banchero at 22 a game. Without Fultz (22 straight), Ingles (6 straight), Isaac (2 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Randle at 26 a game. Without Robinson (9 straight), McBride (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 36 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Orlando 115, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
12/31 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Eubanks (2 straight), Bates-Diop (6 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 31 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 27 and Banchero at 26 a game. Without Gar. Harris (2 straight), Fultz (23 straight), Ingles (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-9 a night and Orlando minus-1 and the arc, Phoenix at 37 percent from three to Orlando's 29. Call it Phoenix 115, Orlando 114, Orlando keeping it close.
1/02 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Curry at 23 and Wiggins at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Green (9 straight). 2 days' rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 28 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 27 and Banchero at 27 a game. Without Fultz (24 straight), Ingles (8 straight), Isaac (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where Orlando takes 28 free throws a game to Golden State's 21 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-7 a night and Orlando plus-3. Call it Golden State 116, Orlando 113, Orlando keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
WASBC B. Coulibaly
CK C. Kispert
DA D. Avdija
DG D. Gafford
DG D. Gallinari
DW D. Wright
JP J. Poole
KK K. Kuzma
LS L. Shamet
TJ T. Jones
ORLAB A. Black
CA C. Anthony
CH C. Houstan
FW F. Wagner
GB G. Bitadze
GH G. Harris
JS J. Suggs
MW M. Wagner
PB P. Banchero
WC W. Carter Jr.
WAS/ORL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Franz Wagner scores 28 to lead the Magic to a 127-119 win over the Wizards
WASHINGTON -- — Franz Wagner had 28 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, rookie Anthony Black scored a career-high 23 points and the Orlando Magic defeated the Washington Wizards 127-119 on Tuesday night.
“We’re playing good ball right now, and I’m just trying to focus on that, honestly,” Black said. “It’s going to come game-by-game, getting more comfortable. So I’m just trying to keep doing things that’s helping us win.”
Paolo Banchero overcame a slow start to finish with 24 points and eight assists and Jalen Suggs returned from a two-game absence due to a left wrist injury to score 11.
“He looked good. His conditioning was on point, he was out there defending the right way, crawling into the basketball, trying to do a lot of the right things,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said of Suggs. “Having a couple of games off, there wasn’t as much rust as we’d thought there’d be."
Jordan Poole had 30 points to lead the Wizards, who have lost four of their last five, and Tyus Jones added 22.
Trailing by as many as eight, Washington’s bench came up with 12 points in the first quarter, and a 14-4 run tied things at 33 after one.
The Magic went on a 7-0 run to take a 45-38 lead in the second quarter and force Washington to call timeout with 6:44 left in the half.
The Wizards’ Corey Kispert came off the bench and started the game 6 of 6 including 3 of 3 on 3-pointers for 15 first-half points as Washington fought back from down nine to trail 63-60 at the half.
The Magic led by as many as nine several times in the third before Banchero hit a left-handed layup for the last shot of the third quarter to give Orlando a 98-88 lead.
Washington trailed by as many as 17 in the fourth quarter, but an 11-0 run capped by Jones’ 3-pointer made it 117-111 with 3:10 remaining. Poole hit a pair of free throws with 2:02 remaining to cut the deficit to four and did so again on a dunk with just under a minute to play, but that’s the closest Washington got.
“It’s the togetherness that we have, our poise, our communication,” Wagner said. “We have guys that like playing with each other and for each other and I think that shows in the last couple of minutes when stuff isn’t going our way that we come together and kind of find our groove again.”
The Magic had 70 points in the paint and caused 21 turnovers. They’ve won the first three games of a four-game regular season series with the Wizards.
“Overall, I think schematically we did the right things,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “Clean up on a couple of those turnovers and some of the transition opportunities and paint points, I think it’s a different ballgame.”
Daniel Gafford had 13 points and 13 rebounds while Kyle Kuzma had 17 for the Wizards. However, he was only 6 of 18 from the field while accounting for six turnovers.
“I just didn’t play well,” Kuzma said. “If I would have found more of a rhythm, we probably would have won because everybody else played well."