Magic Triumph Over Kings
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — In an eye-opening display, Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic netted 30 points, guiding his team to a decisive 131-94 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday evening. This defeat marked the Kings’ 15th consecutive loss, setting a new franchise record for futility.
Historic Performances
The Magic achieved a historic feat themselves, launching a record 27 successful three-pointers out of 51 attempts, with Banchero hitting five of his seven attempts from beyond the arc, in addition to contributing six assists and five rebounds.
This loss came shortly after Sacramento’s star players, center Domantas Sabonis and guard Zach LaVine, underwent season-ending surgeries—Sabonis for a meniscus injury sustained in November that limited him to just 19 games, and LaVine on his right pinky finger. The Kings, who once thrived under various names like the Cincinnati Royals and Kansas City Kings, now hold the worst record in the NBA at 12-45.
Their previous long losing streaks dated back to their years as the Cincinnati Royals, where they experienced a 14-game slide in the 1959-60 and 1971-72 seasons. Currently, they are on a difficult five-game road trip ahead.
Magic’s Strong Performance
On the other side, the Magic improved to an impressive 29-25, currently positioned seventh in the Eastern Conference. Anthony Black was a notable contributor for Orlando with 20 points, followed by Desmond Bane (17 points), Jett Howard (16 points), and Jevon Carter (14 points). Banchero was pivotal in the first half, scoring 18 points and helping the Magic take a 64-55 lead at halftime.
Despite Sacramento’s efforts to close the gap in the third quarter, bringing the score to 83-81, Orlando responded with a powerful 19-3 run, extending their lead to 102-84 heading into the fourth. The fourth quarter saw Tristan da Silva connect on three consecutive three-pointers, further extending the Magic’s dominance, as they outscored the Kings 48-13 in the final 16 minutes of the game.
Upcoming Matches
The next challenge for the Magic will be a matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, while the Kings will face off against the San Antonio Spurs in Austin, Texas the same night.
