Game ID: 22500840
Orlando Magic @ Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 10:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 33 23 24 29 109ORL 25 28 26 31 110
LAL vs ORL ScoutingLAL vs ORL 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.
LAL availability going into 2/10 · back-to-backOUT Dončić missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 2/03, returns tonight: 17 min (157% of 11)
BACK Reaves back 2/03 after 19, 25 min since (71% of 35)
LAL availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Dončić missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 2/03 after 19, 25 min since (71% of 35)
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/10 after 4, 17 min since (157% of 11)
LAL availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Dončić missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 38 min (106% of 36)
OUT Ayton missed 2 since 2/10, returns tonight: 28 min (100% of 27)
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/10 after 4, 17 min since (157% of 11)
NEW Kleber 10 to 17 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 38 min since (106% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 28 min since (100% of 27)
LAL availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 35 min since (98% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 26 min since (95% of 27)
LAL availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 28 min since (103% of 27)
LAL availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 27 min since (98% of 27)
LAL availability going into 3/01 · back-to-backOUT Hachimura missed 2 since 2/26, returns tonight: 22 min (75% of 30)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 35 min since (99% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 25 min since (93% of 27)
LAL availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 22 min since (75% of 30)
ORL availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Bitadze missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Fra. Wagner back 2/09 after 24, 17 min since (55% of 30)
BACK Howard back 2/01 after 4, 7 min since (55% of 12)
ORL availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restOUT Bitadze missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 3 since 2/07, returns tonight: 5 min (37% of 13)
BACK Fra. Wagner back 2/09 after 24, 19 min since (62% of 30)
ORL availability going into 2/21 · 1 day's restOUT Bitadze missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 9 min (57% of 15)
BACK Fra. Wagner back 2/09 after 24, 19 min since (62% of 30)
BACK Cain back 2/05 after 6, 5 min since (41% of 13)
ORL availability going into 2/22 · back-to-backOUT Fra. Wagner missed 2 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Bitadze back 2/21 after 4, 9 min since (57% of 15)
BACK Cain back 2/19 after 3, 5 min since (37% of 13)
NEW Black 29 to 35 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 3 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Suggs missed 2 since 2/21, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 2/21, out tonight
BACK Bitadze back 2/21 after 4, 9 min since (57% of 15)
ORL availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 4 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Suggs missed 3 since 2/21, returns tonight: 13 min (47% of 28)
OUT Bitadze missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 3 since 2/21, out tonight
OUT Penda missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
ORL availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 5 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Bitadze missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 4 since 2/21, out tonight
OUT Penda missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 2/26 after 3, 13 min since (47% of 28)
NEW da Silva 24 to 30 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 6 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Bitadze missed 4 since 2/22, returns tonight: 22 min (141% of 15)
OUT Cain missed 5 since 2/21, returns tonight: 4 min (32% of 13)
OUT Penda missed 4 since 2/22, returns tonight: 19 min (150% of 13)
BACK Suggs back 2/26 after 3, 20 min since (70% of 28)
NEW da Silva 24 to 34 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 7 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Black missed 2 since 3/01, returns tonight: 24 min (81% of 29)
BACK Suggs back 2/26 after 3, 22 min since (78% of 28)
BACK Bitadze back 3/03 after 4, 22 min since (141% of 15)
BACK Cain back 3/03 after 5, 4 min since (32% of 13)
BACK Penda back 3/03 after 4, 19 min since (150% of 13)
NEW da Silva 24 to 32 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; James at 21 and Reaves at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bane at 29 and Banchero at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (3 straight), Suggs (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 106 a night to the Lakers' 118. Call it Orlando 115, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/10 vs SAS 108-136 — LAL notes
LAL lost 108-136. LAL shot 48% (41 of 85) to SAS's 57%, 11 of 25 from three. LAL turned it over 18 times to SAS's 12, and SAS turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 34-45 against them. Kennard led with 14 (5 of 8, 1 of 3 from three); Timme added 14, Hayes 13. Q4 was theirs, 27-21, the deficit cut from 34 to 28, but the other 3 periods went 115-81 against them. LaRavia's -31 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/12 vs DAL 124-104 — LAL notes
LAL won 124-104. LAL shot 56% (48 of 86) to DAL's 49%, 10 of 31 from three. The glass went 44-28 for them. L. James led with 28 (10 of 20, 2 of 7 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Hachimura added 21, Reaves 18. The hinge was Q3, 32-19: a lead of 1 became 14, and the lead reached 22. Hayes was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
2/20 vs LAC 125-122 — LAL notes
LAL won 125-122. LAL shot 52% (44 of 85) to LAC's 55%, 17 of 31 from three. The glass went 32-42 against them. Dončić led with 38 (11 of 25, 8 of 14 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Reaves added 29, James 13. The hinge was Q1, 41-30: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
2/22 vs BOS 89-111 — LAL notes
LAL lost 89-111. LAL shot 39% (34 of 87) to BOS's 48%, 9 of 30 from three. LAL turned it over 8 times to BOS's 14. The glass went 39-50 against them. Dončić led with 25 (9 of 22, 4 of 7 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); James added 20, Reaves 15. Q1 was theirs, 28-28, but the other 3 periods went 83-61 against them. Dončić's -21 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/24 vs ORL 109-110 — LAL notes
LAL lost 109-110. LAL shot 48% (40 of 83) to ORL's 46%, 9 of 29 from three. Dončić led with 22 (8 of 24, 2 of 10 from three, 4 of 9 at the line); Ayton added 21, James 21. Q1 was theirs, 33-25, but the other 3 periods went 85-76 against them. They led by as many as 12. Vanderbilt's -6 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/26 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 95 a night and allowing 111, shooting 38 percent and 30 from three, 12 free throws a game; Green at 17 and Gillespie at 13 a game. Without Booker (3 straight), Brooks (2 straight), Goodwin (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and James at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 22 free throws a game to Phoenix's 12 and the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Phoenix's 30. Call it Phoenix 112, the Lakers 111, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/28 @ 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 47 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Melton at 21 and Moody at 18 a game. Without Ste. Curry (9 straight), Porziņģis (3 straight), Williams (4 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and James at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 24 free throws a game to Golden State's 16. Call it Golden State 117, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/01 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Reaves at 19 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Hachimura (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 127, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 23 free throws a game; Achiuwa at 17 and Raynaud at 15 a game. Without LaVine (8 straight), Hunter (8 straight), Cardwell (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 41 percent from three to Sacramento's 29 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 111 a night to Sacramento's 127. Call it the Lakers 119, Sacramento 113.
3/03 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and James at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 29 free throws a game; Bey at 24 and Williamson at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-6 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 17 times a game to the Lakers' 10. Call it the Lakers 118, New Orleans 113.
2/11 vs MIL 108-116 — ORL notes
ORL lost 108-116. ORL shot 43% (35 of 82) to MIL's 48%, 20 of 47 from three. ORL turned it over 9 times to MIL's 15. The glass went 30-47 against them. Bane led with 31 (11 of 17, 8 of 11 from three); Banchero added 17, Suggs 16. Q1 was theirs, 24-20, but the other 3 periods went 96-84 against them. F. Wagner's -9 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/19 @ SAC 131-94 — ORL notes
ORL won 131-94. ORL shot 50% (45 of 90) to SAC's 41%, 27 of 50 from three. ORL turned it over 10 times to SAC's 19. Banchero led with 30 (10 of 21, 5 of 7 from three); Black added 20, Bane 17. The hinge was Q2, 46-27: ORL came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 9, and the lead reached 37. Carter was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
2/21 @ PHX 110-113 — ORL notes
ORL lost 110-113 in 2 overtimes. ORL shot 43% (42 of 98) to PHX's 34%, 10 of 39 from three. ORL turned it over 16 times to PHX's 8, and PHX turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 53-65 against them. Bane led with 34 (12 of 18, 5 of 9 from three); Banchero added 26, Carter 15. Q1 was theirs, 25-21, but the other 5 periods went 92-85 against them. They led by as many as 12. Howard's -11 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/22 @ LAC 111-109 — ORL notes
ORL won 111-109. ORL shot 48% (40 of 83) to LAC's 48%, 8 of 23 from three. Bane led with 36 (13 of 19, 4 of 6 from three, 6 of 10 at the line); Banchero added 16, Carter Jr. 15. The hinge was Q1, 29-25: from level to 4 ahead. Bane was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
2/24 @ LAL 110-109 — ORL notes
ORL won 110-109. ORL shot 46% (43 of 94) to LAL's 48%, 7 of 29 from three. Banchero led with 36 (12 of 22, 2 of 6 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Bane added 22, Carter Jr. 20. The hinge was Q2, 28-23: the deficit went from 8 to 3. ORL trailed 53-56 at the half and won the second half 57-53.
2/26 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bane at 28 and Banchero at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (4 straight), Suggs (3 straight), Bitadze (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Smith Jr. at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Orlando minus-6 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 18 times a game to Orlando's 11. Call it Orlando 112, Houston 111, Houston keeping it close.
3/01 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bane at 28 and Banchero at 25 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (5 straight), Bitadze (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Duren at 28 and Cunningham at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Stewart (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-9 a night and Orlando minus-2 and the arc, Orlando at 38 percent from three to Detroit's 32. Call it Orlando 115, Detroit 114, Detroit keeping it close.
3/03 vs WAS — 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 106 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bane at 28 and Banchero at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (6 straight), Bitadze (4 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 126, shooting 46 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Coulibaly at 14 and Riley at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 16 a night. Without Black (2 straight), Sarr (8 straight), Whitmore (39 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been minus-4 a night and Washington minus-16 and the defense, Orlando allowing 110 a night to Washington's 126. Call it Orlando 119, Washington 110.
3/05 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and Bane at 26 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (7 straight), Black (2 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 30 free throws a game; Marshall at 20 and Williams at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Flagg (8 straight), Marshall (2 straight), Bagley III (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Dallas giving it away 17 times a game to Orlando's 12 and the defense, Orlando allowing 109 a night to Dallas's 117. Call it Orlando 116, Dallas 109.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAR A. Reaves
DA D. Ayton
DO Doncic
JL J. LaRavia
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
LK L. Kennard
MK M. Kleber
MS M. Smart
RH R. Hachimura
ORLAB A. Black
DB D. Bane
JC J. Carter
JH J. Howard
JI J. Isaac
JR J. Richardson
MW M. Wagner
PB P. Banchero
TD T. da Silva
WC W. Carter Jr.
LAL/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
Wendell Carter Jr. scores late winner in Magic's 110-109 victory over slumping Lakers
LOS ANGELES -- — Wendell Carter Jr . made a go-ahead putback with 6.7 seconds to play, Paolo Banchero scored 36 points and the Orlando Magic finished a strong West Coast trip with a 110-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
LeBron James missed a fallaway 3-point attempt on the final shot by the Lakers, who went 4-4 on a disappointing homestand spanning the All-Star break. Los Angeles has lost four of six and fallen into sixth place in the West, repeatedly failing to beat playoff-caliber teams.
Desmond Bane scored 22 points and Carter had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic , who have won six of eight overall after taking three of four on the road out of the break. That surge — capped by their fourth consecutive win over the Lakers — has moved the Magic within a half-game of sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Orlando rallied from an early double-digit deficit to take a five-point lead with 5 1/2 minutes left, but Rui Hachimura hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2:14 to play for the Lakers. Bane drilled a go-ahead 3 with 34.6 seconds left, but Doncic found James under the basket for a dunk to reclaim the lead.
After Carter scored on the Magic's second offensive rebound of their final possession, Luka Doncic belatedly got the ball to James, whose desperation shot didn't go.
Doncic had 22 points and 15 assists, while James and Deandre Ayton scored 21 apiece for the Lakers. Austin Reaves scored all 18 of his points in the second half.
The Lakers' turnovers and the Magic's poor 3-point shooting kept the game close through three quarters.
Orlando starting guard Jalen Suggs missed his third straight game with a back strain.
Lakers backup center Jaxson Hayes remained out with an ankle injury.