Coming off a tough overtime loss, the Los Angeles Lakers fought back on their home court against the Orlando Magic. Despite fatigue from the previous game, LeBron James and Anthony Davis showcased their resilience and led the Lakers to a narrow 104-103 win, improving their record to 2-2.
The Magic started strong, hitting early three-pointers to take an early lead. However, D’Angelo Russell’s explosive poster dunk on Paolo Banchero brought the crowd to their feet. Although the Lakers struggled offensively, Davis and Christian Wood sparked a run towards the end of the first quarter, giving the Lakers a 29-24 lead.
The Lakers carried their momentum into the second quarter, opening with a 6-0 run to establish a double-digit lead. But Gary Harris’s hоt shooting from beyond the arc helped the Magic close the gap. Despite Davis’s inside scoring, the Lakers went into halftime trailing 58-54 after a buzzer-beating triple from Jalen Suggs.
The Magic’s Franz Wagner extended their lead in the third quarter, but Austin Reaves finally found his rhythm with a crucial three-pointer. A clear path foul drawn by LeBron sparked a 9-0 run for the Lakers, allowing them to regain a slim 81-80 lead heading into the final quarter.
Cole Anthony’s deep three-pointer opened the fourth quarter, momentarily halting the Lakers’ momentum, but LeBron quickly responded with an easy layup. Harris continued to make an impact, hitting an open three-pointer to give the Magic a five-point lead. However, Russell’s clutch three-pointer and free throws cut the deficit to 98-96. In the final minutes, James and Russell connected on crucial three-pointers to put the Lakers back in the lead.
With the Lakers up 104-103 and 20 seconds remaining, the Magic had one last chance. Jalen Suggs attacked the basket against Davis, but the Lakers’ defense forced a miss. Russell sealed the victory with two free throws, and the Magic’s missed three-point attempts ended the game.