Nine Points in a Quarter: The Wizards Bury the Magic in the Third and Win 103-94 in Orlando
Orlando led by nine early and by a point at halftime. Then came a third quarter the Magic will want back: nine points, an 8-0 Washington closing run, and a hole too deep for a fourth-quarter rally. Anthony Davis scored 27 as the Wizards won 103-94 at Kia Center, leaving Orlando 0-4 at home.
ORLANDO — For a half on Monday night, the Orlando Magic were the better team at Kia Center. They led 33-28 after one quarter, stretched it to 37-28 early in the second, and went to the locker room down just a point, 60-59, to the Washington Wizards. Then the third quarter happened. Orlando scored nine points in twelve minutes — Washington scored 19, closed the period on an 8-0 run, and walked into the fourth quarter up 79-68 on its way to a 103-94 win.
Anthony Davis did the heavy work for Washington: 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting with nine rebounds, including a pull-up jumper and a layup early in the third that started the separation. Kyshawn George added 22, hitting a three that stretched the run, and rookie AJ Dybantsa scored 21 with five rebounds and three steals — his third straight game of at least 17 points to open his career. Bilal Coulibaly's two late alley-oop dunks, the second making it 101-90 with 1:06 to play, closed the door on Orlando's 26-point fourth quarter.
The margins underneath the score tell the same story: Washington scored 21 fast-break points to Orlando's nine, forced 18 Magic turnovers and collected 10 steals. The loss drops Orlando to 2-5 — and, more pointedly, 0-4 at home, still winless in its own building a week into the season. The Magic visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday; Washington, now 4-3, hosts Atlanta on Wednesday. Florida's NBA night was only half over at the final buzzer in Orlando, with the Heat closing the slate in Los Angeles.
