Game ID: 22500885
Washington Wizards @ Orlando Magic
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
ORL 27 30 40 29 126WAS 24 30 27 28 109
ORL vs WAS ScoutingORL vs 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.
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
ORL availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 8 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Black back 3/05 after 2, 24 min since (81% of 29)
BACK Suggs back 2/26 after 3, 24 min since (86% of 28)
BACK Bitadze back 3/03 after 4, 17 min since (111% 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 (153% of 13)
NEW da Silva 24 to 31 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 3/08 · back-to-backOUT Fra. Wagner missed 9 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Black back 3/05 after 2, 13 min since (44% of 29)
BACK Suggs back 2/26 after 3, 25 min since (90% of 28)
BACK Bitadze back 3/03 after 4, 12 min since (82% of 15)
BACK Cain back 3/03 after 5, 4 min since (30% of 13)
BACK Penda back 3/03 after 4, 18 min since (139% of 13)
NEW da Silva 24 to 31 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 3/11 · 2 days' restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 10 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Black back 3/05 after 2, 13 min since (44% of 29)
BACK Bitadze back 3/03 after 4, 11 min since (75% of 15)
BACK Cain back 3/03 after 5, 5 min since (41% of 13)
BACK Penda back 3/03 after 4, 19 min since (151% of 13)
NEW da Silva 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Carter 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Howard 12 to 19 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 4 since 2/11, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 35 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/11 after 6, 19 min since (78% of 24)
NEW Williams 25 to 30 min over the last 3
NEW Gill 17 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Cooper 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Vukcevic 14 to 19 min over the last 3
WAS availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 5 since 2/11, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 36 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/11 after 6, 20 min since (83% of 24)
NEW Gill 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Cooper 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Vukcevic 14 to 20 min over the last 3
WAS availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 6 since 2/11, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 37 since 12/06, out tonight
NEW Gill 17 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Vukcevic 14 to 19 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 7 since 2/11, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 38 since 12/06, out tonight
NEW Riley 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Gill 17 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Vukcevic 14 to 19 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 3/03 · back-to-backOUT Black missed 2 since 2/28, returns tonight: 31 min (106% of 29)
OUT Sarr missed 8 since 2/11, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 39 since 12/06, out tonight
NEW Riley 22 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Gill 17 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Vukcevic 14 to 19 min over the last 3
WAS availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 9 since 2/11, out tonight
OUT Gill missed 2 since 3/02, returns tonight: 34 min (194% of 17)
OUT Whitmore missed 40 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Vukcevic missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Black back 3/03 after 2, 31 min since (106% of 29)
NEW Riley 22 to 33 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/08 · 2 days' restOUT George missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Sarr missed 10 since 2/11, returns tonight: 18 min (65% of 27)
OUT Watkins missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 41 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Vukcevic missed 3 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Black back 3/03 after 2, 35 min since (121% of 29)
BACK Gill back 3/05 after 2, 34 min since (194% of 17)
NEW Riley 22 to 32 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT George missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Watkins missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Champagnie missed 2 since 3/05, returns tonight: 18 min (90% of 20)
OUT Whitmore missed 42 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Vukcevic missed 4 since 3/02, returns tonight: 7 min (49% of 14)
BACK Black back 3/03 after 2, 34 min since (117% of 29)
BACK Sarr back 3/08 after 10, 18 min since (65% of 27)
BACK Gill back 3/05 after 2, 28 min since (160% of 17)
NEW Riley 22 to 30 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT George missed 4 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Watkins missed 4 since 3/03, returns tonight: 16 min (78% of 21)
OUT Whitmore missed 43 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Black back 3/03 after 2, 34 min since (117% of 29)
BACK Sarr back 3/08 after 10, 19 min since (69% of 27)
BACK Champagnie back 3/10 after 2, 18 min since (90% of 20)
BACK Gill back 3/05 after 2, 27 min since (155% of 17)
BACK Vukcevic back 3/10 after 4, 7 min since (49% of 14)
NEW Riley 22 to 31 min over the last 5
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.
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 108-113 — ORL notes
ORL lost 108-113. ORL shot 45% (40 of 88) to HOU's 52%, 15 of 37 from three. Bane led with 30 (12 of 19, 6 of 10 from three); Banchero added 19, Carter Jr. 16. Q1 was theirs, 29-22, but the other 3 periods went 91-79 against them. They led by as many as 19.
3/01 vs DET 92-106 — ORL notes
ORL lost 92-106. ORL shot 38% (29 of 77) to DET's 45%, 10 of 36 from three, and went to the line 30 times to DET's 24 — 24 points from the stripe to their 18. ORL turned it over 19 times to DET's 13, and DET turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 41-56 against them. Banchero led with 24 (5 of 10, 1 of 4 from three, 13 of 16 at the line); da Silva added 19, Bane 17. Q2 was theirs, 31-27, but the other 3 periods went 79-61 against them. Banchero's -25 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 vs WAS 126-109 — ORL notes
ORL won 126-109. ORL shot 55% (42 of 76) to WAS's 47%, 10 of 25 from three, and went to the line 37 times to WAS's 25 — 32 points from the stripe to their 16. Banchero led with 37 (15 of 21, 6 of 7 at the line); Bane added 25, Howard 12. The hinge was Q3, 40-27: a lead of 3 became 16, and the lead reached 25. Bane was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
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.
3/07 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 30 and McDaniels at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Conley (3 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and Bane at 22 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 38 percent from three to Orlando's 33 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-3 a night and Orlando minus-2. Call it Minnesota 115, Orlando 110.
3/08 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gia. Antetokounmpo at 23 and Kuzma at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight), Prince (54 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Banchero at 24 and Bane at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Fra. Wagner (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-1 a night and Milwaukee minus-6 and the defense, Orlando allowing 107 a night to Milwaukee's 117. Call it Orlando 114, Milwaukee 109.
3/11 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Banchero at 27 and Bane at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Fra. Wagner (10 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Harden at 20 and Mobley at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Allen (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-5 and the defense, Orlando allowing 102 a night to Cleveland's 109. Call it Orlando 115, Cleveland 110.
2/24 @ ATL 98-119 — WAS notes
WAS lost 98-119. WAS shot 44% (37 of 84) to ATL's 39%, 10 of 31 from three, and got to the line 17 times to ATL's 26. WAS turned it over 20 times to ATL's 10, and ATL turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 41-61 against them. Riley led with 18 (7 of 8); Watkins added 14, Champagnie 14. Q4 was theirs, 34-19, the deficit cut from 36 to 21, but the other 3 periods went 100-64 against them. Johnson's -31 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/26 @ ATL 96-126 — WAS notes
WAS lost 96-126. WAS shot 38% (36 of 94) to ATL's 46%, 9 of 33 from three, and got to the line 16 times to ATL's 37. The glass went 44-56 against them. Riley led with 14 (6 of 17, 2 of 7 from three); Hardy added 14, Johnson 14. Q3 was theirs, 24-22, the deficit cut from 20 to 18, but the other 3 periods went 104-72 against them. Hardy's -34 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 vs TOR 125-134 — WAS notes
WAS lost 125-134. WAS shot 53% (47 of 88) to TOR's 60%, 16 of 34 from three, and got to the line 21 times to TOR's 27. Riley led with 19 (6 of 10, 6 of 7 at the line); Coulibaly added 14, George 14. Q1 was theirs, 33-25, but the other 3 periods went 109-92 against them. They led by as many as 13. Riley's -16 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 vs HOU 118-123 — WAS notes
WAS lost 118-123. WAS shot 48% (44 of 91) to HOU's 49%, 19 of 35 from three, and got to the line 14 times to HOU's 28. WAS turned it over 12 times to HOU's 20. The glass went 27-59 against them. Coulibaly led with 23 (9 of 16, 5 of 7 from three); Cooper added 21, George 16. Q4 was theirs, 38-29, the deficit cut from 14 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 94-80 against them. Riley's -13 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 @ ORL 109-126 — WAS notes
WAS lost 109-126. WAS took 16 more shots (92 to 76), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to ORL's 55%, 7 of 32 from three, and got to the line 25 times to ORL's 37. Riley led with 19 (8 of 13, 2 of 5 from three); Hardy added 18, Cooper 16. Q2 was theirs, 30-30, but the other 3 periods went 96-79 against them. Carrington's -30 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/05 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 126, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Riley at 15 and Hardy at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Sarr (9 straight), Gill (2 straight), Whitmore (40 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 29 from three, 27 free throws a game; George at 28 and Collier at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Kessler (57 straight), Love (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the arc, Washington at 37 percent from three to Utah's 29 and the line, where Utah takes 27 free throws a game to Washington's 19. Call it Washington 119, Utah 117, Utah keeping it close.
3/08 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Murphy III at 20 and Bey at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Poole (4 straight), Jordan (2 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Riley at 14 and Coulibaly at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without George (2 straight), Sarr (10 straight), Watkins (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-5 a night and Washington minus-8 and the line, where New Orleans takes 28 free throws a game to Washington's 22. Call it New Orleans 121, Washington 115.
3/10 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Herro at 25 and Adebayo at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Wiggins (2 straight), Powell (5 straight), Jović (8 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 129, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Riley at 15 and Coulibaly at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without George (3 straight), Watkins (3 straight), Champagnie (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 109 a night to Washington's 129 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-7. Call it Miami 125, Washington 112, Miami by 13.
3/12 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 31 free throws a game; Banchero at 27 and Bane at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (11 straight), Black (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 132, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Riley at 16 and Johnson at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without George (4 straight), Watkins (4 straight), Whitmore (43 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 106 a night to Washington's 132 and the glass, where Orlando has been plus-7 a night and Washington minus-9. Call it Orlando 124, Washington 112, Orlando by 12.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
WASBC B. Carrington
BC B. Coulibaly
JC J. Champagnie
JH J. Hardy
JR J. Reese
LB L. Black
SC S. Cooper
TJ T. Johnson
WR W. Riley
ORLDB D. Bane
GB G. Bitadze
JC J. Cain
JC J. Carter
JH J. Howard
JI J. Isaac
JR J. Richardson
JS J. Suggs
MW M. Wagner
NP N. Penda
PB P. Banchero
TD T. da Silva
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
Paolo Banchero matches season high with 37 points as Magic ease past Wizards 126-109
ORLANDO, Fla. -- — Paolo Banchero equaled a season high with 37 points, Desmond Bane scored 25 and the Orlando Magic eased to a 126-109 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
Banchero went 15 of 21 from the field as Orlando shot 55.3% and dominated with its starters on the floor to end a two-game skid. The Magic are seventh in the Eastern Conference.
Jett Howard scored 12 points and Jalen Suggs , Jevon Carter and Moritz Wagner had 10 apiece for an Orlando team that was missing injured regulars Anthony Black (quad), Wendell Carter Jr . (ankle) and Franz Wagner (ankle).
Rookie Will Riley scored 19 points and Jaden Hardy added 18 for the Wizards, who had nine healthy players available and lost their sixth straight.
Angel Reese of the WNBA's Chicago Sky was in attendance to watch her brother, Washington's Juju Reese, make his second career start. The 6-foot-9 rookie out of Maryland had nine points and eight rebounds in 32 minutes.
The Wizards led briefly in the second quarter and kept it within single digits until early in the third, when a layup by Suggs put the Magic ahead 66-56. Orlando led by double digits the rest of the way and pushed its advantage to 25 points in the fourth quarter.