NBA Game of the Week: Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers meet on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena for some mid-week NBA action.

The Orlando Magic come off of a six-game winning streak, pending its result against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.

The Magic started off the season 3-6 with a five-game losing streak in that span. However, the Magic have pulled it together in the early stages of the season and are the current three seed in the Eastern Conference behind the Cavaliers and Celtics.

Franz Wagner has led the Magic in points in 11 of 15 total games played. Wagner leads the team in points per game, averaging an extremely solid 22.9. He’s also been dishing out passes at the highest rate, averaging five assists per game so far in the young season.

While Jalen Suggs has been the secondary star and beacon of help for Wagner, Paolo Banchero’s presence is sorely missed in the Magic lineup.

Before his oblique injury three weeks ago that will keep him sidelined for another month or so, Banchero averaged 29 points per game and was finding his groove early in the season. Banchero dropped a 50-piece against the Pacers on Oct. 28.

The Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, are gauging success with JJ Redick now at the helm.

The Lakers stand at an impressive 10-4 record and are soaring smoothly on a six-game win streak. They are currently positioned at third in the Western Conference, just like the Magic in the East.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis have dominated so far for the Lakers this year. Anthony Davis leads the team in points per game with a staggering 30.7. James has registered an impressive 23.5 points per game and looks like he has no intention of slowing down in his 22nd NBA season.

Rookie Dalton Knecht has started his NBA career off on the right foot as well. Knecht dropped 37 points against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 19 on 9-12 shooting from beyond the arc and 12-16 from the floor. The rookie has easily gained the respect of his teammates and put the rest of the league on notice. His performance is especially notable due to the weaker-than-average draft class from this year.

The Lakers lead the all-time series between the two teams 46-24. In their most recent meeting on Nov. 4 of last year, the Magic snapped a seven-game losing streak dating back to 2021 and won 120-101. In that game, Anthony Davis and Franz Wagner led their teams in points, which very well may be a possibility for tomorrow’s game with how both their seasons are going so far.

Overall, the matchup proves to be the most interesting contest between the two teams in some time. Both are on winning streaks pending Orlando’s result against the Clippers on Wednesday night, and the pair are also third in their respective conferences.

Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. and fans can expect and should tune in to this high-quality basketball display in the City of Angels.

Oscar Orellana is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email oko5122@psu.edu.