Sports

Magic Score Season-High 133 in Win Over Bulls, Stay Perfect at Home

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic put on an offensive clinic Wednesday night, cruising past the Chicago Bulls 133-119 to extend their home winning streak to a perfect 9-0. Jalen Suggs led the charge with a career-high 31 points and seven assists, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added a season-high 24 points, drilling six three-pointers.

Orlando, Florida, USA, November 27, 2024, Orlando Magic’s Jalen Suggs #4 reacts after making a shot at the Kia Center. (Photo Credit: Marty Jean-Louis)

With the win, the Magic improved to 13-7, maintaining their grip on one of the hottest starts in franchise history. They are now the NBA’s last remaining team with an undefeated home record, a testament to their dominance at the Kia Center.

“We’ve set the standard for how we want to play in this building,” Suggs said postgame. “When we’re at home, it’s about taking care of business, and tonight, we did just that.”

Orlando, known for its league-best defense, flipped the script with a high-powered offensive performance. Shooting 51.1% from the field and connecting on 15 of 39 from deep (38.5%), the Magic overwhelmed a Bulls defense that had few answers. Orlando also capitalized on 18 Chicago turnovers, turning them into 19 points.

The Magic led by 13 after the first quarter and stretched the margin to as many as 27 in the third. Though Chicago rallied in spurts, led by Ayo Dosunmu’s 21 points and Nikola Vučević’s 19-point, 11-rebound effort, the Bulls never seriously threatened.

Orlando, Florida, USA, November 27, 2024, Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner #22 looks to make a pass at the Kia Center. (Photo Credit: Marty Jean-Louis)

Franz Wagner contributed 21 points and six assists for Orlando, while Moe Wagner added 15 off the bench. Goga Bitadze anchored the paint with 11 points and 11 rebounds, recording his fifth double-double of the season.

Despite entering the night ranked last in the league in three-point percentage, the Magic looked confident from beyond the arc. Six first-quarter threes helped set the tone as they raced to an early lead.

“We emphasize getting to the paint and creating open looks,” said head coach Jamahl Mosley. “When we play downhill, move the ball, and take rhythm shots, the game opens up for us.”

The Bulls saw the return of Lonzo Ball, who played limited minutes after missing 15 games with a wrist injury. He finished with six points in 15 minutes.

For Orlando, the victory marks their 10th in 11 games, solidifying their status as a rising Eastern Conference contender. Their next test comes Friday against the Brooklyn Nets as they aim to keep their momentum rolling.

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