Magic complete double-digit comeback, beat visiting Jazz

ORLANDO, Fla. — When the Magic traveled to Utah in late-December, Orlando needed a game-winning layup from Desmond Bane in the final moments of overtime to escape with a one-point win at Delta Center.

And on Saturday night at Kia Center, coach Jamahl Mosley‘s squad needed to make a major comeback to capture a 120-117 win against the visiting Jazz, who led by as many as 17 points in the first half.

Paolo Banchero led the way with 23 points as Orlando overcame yet another double-digit deficit in front of a sold-out crowd.

Bane added 22 points and Anthony Black scored 21 for the Magic (27-24).

Knocking down three 3-pointers, backup center Moe Wagner added 13 points off the bench. Jalen Suggs (12 points) tied the game at 115 with two minutes remaining with a 3 of his own and later put the game on ice with a pair of free throws with 8.7 seconds left.

Three-time All-Defensive center Jaren Jackson Jr. made his debut for the Jazz after he was traded from Memphis, and he, along with 7-footer Lauri Markkanen (27 points), caused all sorts of problems for Orlando while notching 22 points in 25 minutes. Neither played in the fourth quarter.

Utah (16-37) outscored Orlando 58-40 in the paint.

The Magic remain at home when they host the Bucks on Sunday at Kia Center.

Banchero’s impact

Banchero made his first four free throws and ended 9 for 12 at the charity stripe.

The Magic forward attacked the paint and found his spots on the floor while distributing the ball early and often. He grabbed seven rebounds with eight assists.

Saturday’s game marked the 15th time this season and 70th contest in his career in which Banchero has tallied 20-plus points, five-plus rebounds and five-plus assists. That career total is the third-most in franchise history.

Second-quarter struggle

The Magic led by three points following the first frame but found themselves down 11 at the half.

That’s because Utah outscored Orlando 35-21 in the second quarter.

In that 12-minute stretch, the Jazz held the Magic to 1-for-11 shooting from 3-point range while scoring 22 points in the paint.

Carter’s debut delayed

New Magic guard Jevon Carter will have to wait at least one more game to see the Kia Center court.

Although he was available to play, the 6-foot-1 guard didn’t.

Rookie watch

The first player off the Magic bench for a second game in a row, Jase Richardson hit a wide-open triple from the top of the key late in the first quarter.

Despite picking up two fouls in his first five minutes on the floor, Richardson ended with five points and two assists in 14 minutes.

Second-round pick Noah Penda saw five minutes of first-half action and played 10 total. The French forward scored four straight points near the end of the third quarter and finished with six and two rebounds.

Magic host summit

The Magic hosted their “Black Business Summit” on Thursday in a “celebration the resilience, innovation, and leadership within the Black business community,” the team said.

The summit, which brought together prominent African American entrepreneurs, non-profit leaders and corporate executives in Orlando, featured “impactful conversations, networking, and insights with influential leaders, while honoring the 100th anniversary of Black History Month,” according to the team.