The Los Angeles Lakers had their six-game winning streak snapped and lost their first home game of the season on Thursday, and it happened in surprising fashion. The Lakers led the Orlando Magic by two with 18.1 seconds left, and Anthony Davis headed to the free throw line with a chance to make it a two-possession game.
Davis, who has made nearly 80% of his free throws the past two seasons, missed both, leaving the door open for Orlando. Franz Wagner, who has been on a scoring rampage lately, took advantage of the game by hitting what turned out to be the game-winning three-pointer with 3.1 seconds left. Davis had a chance to redeem himself at the other end, but couldn’t get an iron on a missed shot.
With the loss, the Lakers fell to 7-1 at home and 10-5 overall, still good enough for fifth place in the Western Conference that begins Friday. Despite the two crucial missed gifts, Davis was sensational once again for the Lakers with 39 points, nine rebounds and three blocks on 14-of-22 shooting. He had made 10 of his 11 free throws before those last two.
LeBron James, once again, was also stellar with 31 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Fourteen of his points came in the fourth quarter, as did three of his five three-pointers. Rookie Dalton Knecht, who was coming off a hot streak Tuesday when he scored 37 points, including 22 in a row, and nine 3-pointers, had another solid outing with 17 points and three more 3-pointers.
But it wasn’t enough as Wagner not only scored the game-winning goal but torched the Lakers all night with 37 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter. Wagner has scored at least 31 points in four of his last six games as he continues to lead an Orlando team that has quietly won seven of its last eight games.
The Magic lost four straight after Paolo Banchero left with a torn oblique in late October, and the offense appeared to be in a slump. Not so much anymore. During this eight-game stretch, Wagner has totaled over 28 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals per game. He has become super aggressive in Banchero’s absence, taking at least 23 shots in five of his last six games.
