Magic Edge Lakers 110-109 on Carter’s Last-Second Putback
Wendell Carter Jr. tipped in a missed shot with just 6.7 seconds on the clock, and the Orlando Magic escaped Crypto.com Arena with a 110-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. Paolo Banchero carried the offensive load with 36 points, and Orlando closed out its West Coast road trip in impressive fashion, leaving Los Angeles with another gut-punch loss in a season that has grown increasingly frustrating at home. Luka Doncic posted a near-triple-double for the Lakers, but his 22 points and 15 assists weren’t enough to hold off a Magic team that showed it can compete anywhere in the country.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Lakers Jump Out Early — ORL 25, LAL 33
Los Angeles came out with energy in front of its home crowd, outscoring Orlando 33-25 in the opening frame. The Lakers moved the ball efficiently and got to the free-throw line early, establishing a lead that seemed to set a comfortable tone for the night. Doncic was in command from the opening tip, distributing and scoring at will as the Lakers held a comfortable eight-point cushion heading into the second quarter.
Second Quarter: Magic Flip the Script — ORL 28, LAL 23
Orlando responded emphatically in the second quarter, outscoring the Lakers 28-23 to pull level by halftime. Banchero began asserting himself as the dominant offensive force, while the Magic tightened defensively and disrupted the rhythm Los Angeles had established in the first period. The second-quarter swing of five points erased the Lakers’ early advantage and sent both teams into the locker room tied at halftime.
Third Quarter: Magic Inch Ahead — ORL 26, LAL 24
The third quarter was a tightly contested two-point edge for Orlando. Neither team was able to create significant separation, but the Magic’s defense continued to stiffen while Banchero kept finding ways to score. Los Angeles was held to just 24 points in the period, and a two-point deficit heading into the fourth wasn’t alarming — but it signaled that the momentum had clearly shifted to the visitors.
Fourth Quarter: Carter Delivers the Decisive Blow — ORL 31, LAL 29
The fourth quarter delivered everything a late-February road game should. The Lakers, down by two entering the final frame, battled back and appeared on course to hold on for a home win. But with 6.7 seconds remaining and the game on the line, Carter Jr. crashed the offensive glass and converted a putback to give Orlando a 110-109 lead. The Lakers were unable to get off a clean look in the final seconds, and the Magic escaped with a one-point victory. Orlando outscored Los Angeles 31-29 in the fourth, with Carter’s two points being the difference.
Key Performers
Paolo Banchero — Orlando Magic
Banchero was the engine of everything Orlando did offensively, finishing with 36 points as the team’s clear focal point. He was a consistent threat throughout all four quarters, keeping the Magic competitive even when the Lakers threatened to pull away. At just 23 years old, Banchero continues to demonstrate the kind of clutch-moment composure that makes him one of the Eastern Conference’s most dangerous young forwards.
Wendell Carter Jr. — Orlando Magic
Carter Jr. may not have led the box score, but his go-ahead putback with 6.7 seconds remaining was the most important play of the night. His willingness to pursue the offensive glass in a high-pressure moment proved decisive, and it capped a strong night in which he gave Orlando a reliable physical presence in the frontcourt.
Luka Doncic — Los Angeles Lakers
Doncic put together a genuinely impressive stat line: 22 points, 15 assists, and 9 rebounds, good for a near-triple-double. He was the driving force behind the Lakers’ 33-point first quarter and kept Los Angeles in the game throughout with his playmaking. With a game rating of 45.2, Doncic did his part — but the team couldn’t convert enough of the opportunities he created, shooting just 31.0% from three-point range on 29 attempts.
Deandre Ayton — Los Angeles Lakers
Ayton was a force on the glass, hauling in a game-high 13 rebounds to anchor the Lakers’ interior presence. He provided valuable second-chance opportunities and defensive resistance, but the team couldn’t capitalize on those possessions often enough to offset a difficult shooting night.
Game Analysis
This was a game defined by the margin of error that comes with one-possession finishes. The Lakers shot 48.2% from the field overall — a solid number — but their 31.0% mark from three-point range (9-of-29) left points on the table throughout the night. Going 20-of-28 from the free-throw line (71.4%) also represented missed opportunities in a game decided by a single basket.
Orlando, by contrast, played with discipline and composure, particularly in the second half. The Magic’s ability to limit the Lakers to 24 points in the third quarter was pivotal — it prevented Los Angeles from using its home-court energy to build a cushion. When Carter Jr. found himself in the right place at the right moment late in the fourth, it was the result of a team that stayed locked in for 48 minutes rather than relying on any single moment of individual brilliance.
For the Lakers, this loss raises questions about their late-game execution. They had the lead in the opening quarter, the home crowd behind them, and a near-triple-double performance from their star. Coming up one point short in these moments is the kind of outcome that can define a season when playoff seeding is on the line.
Standings and Series Context
With the loss, the Lakers fall to 34-23 on the season (16-12 at home, 18-11 on the road), a record that keeps them in the Western Conference playoff picture but underlines the inconsistency that has followed them in recent weeks. The Magic, meanwhile, complete a successful West Coast road trip and continue building their case as a genuine Eastern Conference contender. Orlando’s ability to win in hostile environments speaks to a team developing the mental toughness necessary for a deep postseason run. For Los Angeles, the focus now turns to whether this group can address its offensive consistency issues before the margin for error disappears entirely.
