Los Angeles Lakers (45–25) vs. Orlando Magic (38–31) | Game 71 of 82
WHERE TO WATCH AND WHAT TIME
Date: Thursday, March 19
Tip-off: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Kia Center — Orlando, Florida
TV: NBA TV, Spectrum SportsNet
Radio: ESPN LA 710 / 1330 KWKW
GAME PREVIEW
The Lakers (45–25) battle the Magic (38–31) in the fourth matchup of their six-game road trip.
Los Angeles pushed their win streak to a season-high eight games on Thursday, beating the Heat on the second night of a back-to-back behind Luka Dončić’s electric 60-point performance.
It was the most points Dončić has scored in a Lakers uniform, breaking his previous high of 51 points just last week against the Bulls. He is the first Laker to score 60 since the late great Kobe Bryant’s final game.
LeBron James had a triple-double in the win in Miami, his 124th of his career. James finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds (season-high) and 10 assists while shooting 66.7% (eight for 12) from the floor. He has shot 80.7% (21 for 26) from the field in his last two games.
Talk about efficiency.
The Lakers could be down a starter in Orlando. Austin Reaves is listed as questionable with right hip soreness and could be a game-time decision.
The Lakers closed out the Heat after a strong second-half start, outscoring Miami 38-23 in the third quarter.
Orlando is coming off a three-game skid after losing to the Hornets by 19 points on Thursday.
Tonight’s matchup marks the second and final regular-season meeting between the teams this season.
The Lakers are 22-13 on the road, while the Magic are 21-12 at home.
WHY THIS GAME MATTERS
The Lakers stand tall at No. 3 in the West, two games ahead of the Timberwolves, who are right behind them. A win will push their cushion, as they can’t let their foot off the gas with 11 games left in the season.
L.A. holds a season tiebreaker over the Timberwolves, Rockets and Nuggets. All three are right behind them, in that order, in the West.
KEY MATCHUP
Get your popcorn ready because the key cinema matchup will be Dončić and Paolo Banchero going at it.
Dončić lost the matchup battle in the first meeting between the two, as Banchero finished with a game-high 36 points while Dončić had 22 points (15 assists) on eight for 24 (33%) shooting and two for 10 (20%) shooting from 3.
Banchero leads Orlando in scoring and rebounding, averaging 22.3 points and 8.5 rebounds in 59 games this season.
Orlando’s second-leading scorer, Franz Wagner (21.3 ppg), will not be playing.
WHAT TO AVOID
Getting off to a slow start.
The Lakers got off to another slow start in Miami, getting outscored 42-29 in the opening quarter.
Another thing the Lakers need to avoid is their defense inside the paint against the Magic after allowing 70 total paint points against the Heat.
NOTABLE OPPONENT RANKS AMONG THE NBA
The Magic's current ranking:
16th (114.1) in offensive rating
12th (113.2) in defensive rating
Other rankings:
- PTS — 17th (115.4)
- FTM — 1st (21.5)
- FTA — 1st (26.9)
- FG% — 21st (46.3%)
- 3P% — 26th (34.5%)
They also allow the fewest 3-pointers per game (11.9) and are tied for 1st in second-chance points allowed.
STAT TO WATCH
LeBron James (1611 games) is currently one game away from breaking Robert Parish's (1611 games) record for the most games played in NBA history and three games from breaking it.
SEASON SERIES
Game 1 — Lakers 110-109 loss vs. Orlando on Feb. 24
INJURY REPORT
Lakers:
Austin Reaves (right hip soreness): Questionable
Maxi Kleber (back strain): Out
Magic:
Franz Wagner (ankle): Out
Jonathan Isaac (knee): Out
Anthony Black (abdomen): Out
Wendell Carter Jr. (ribs): Questionable
THREADS FOR THE GAME
The Lakers will wear their purple Statement Edition uniform on the road, while the Magic will wear their white Association Edition uniform.
NEXT MATCHUP
The Lakers head to Detroit next on Monday to continue their six-game road trip, concluding the trip in Indiana on Wednesday.
