The game between the Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic will take place at Capital One Arena on Friday, March 31 at 7:00 PM ET.
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The Washington Wizards will welcome the Orlando Magic to Capital One Arena for an NBA game on Friday. The Washington Wizards won 130-111 in their last game over the Celtics. Just when it appeared Washington fans would have little to worry about besides draft position over the next couple weeks, the short-handed Wizards delivered a dominating victory over one of the NBA’s best teams.
Kristaps Porzingis had 32 points and 13 rebounds, and the Wizards boosted their flickering postseason hopes with a 130-111 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. The Wizards won despite the absence of Bradley Beal (left knee soreness) and Kyle Kuzma (right ankle sprain) and pulled within 2 1/2 games of Chicago for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. Washington has six games remaining in the regular season.
“Probably the best pace, for 36-to-40 minutes, that we’ve seen all year,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “After makes, misses, were able to accumulate quite a few fast break points. Not all those were just off of misses. So being able to play with pace and kind of get stuff early in the clock I thought helped us.” Washington finished with a 19-11 edge in fast break points.
The Orlando Magic on the other hand lost 113-108 against the Grizzlies in their last game. Paolo Banchero finished with 24 points and Wendell Carter Jr. added 14 for the Magic. Orlando, which trailed by 23 in the third quarter, got the deficit to single digits early in the final period. Then a 10-2 run pulled Orlando within 105-100 with 38 seconds left. Bane’s free throws kept Memphis ahead for its seventh straight win.
“Being ready to go from the beginning of the game. That’s the biggest key,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Knowing (the Grizzlies) are a playoff team that’s fighting for a championship, they’re going to come out and set the tone early. Our guys felt that right off the bat.”
Orlando made a push to get back in, partially fueled by Goga Bitadze, who came off the bench for 11 of his 13 points in the third to cut the Memphis lead to 87-73. Things got even tighter in the fourth, but Memphis was able to hang on. Orlando has faced similar close games on several occasions lately.
Washington Wizards: Deni Avdija, Corey Kispert, Kristaps Porziņģis, Delon Wright, Monté Morris
Orlando Magic: Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter, Jr., Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris
Washington Wizards: Daniel Gafford, Kyle Kuzma, Bradley Beal
Orlando Magic: Kevon Harris, Jonathan Isaac
The game between the Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic will take place at Capital One Arena on Friday, March 31 at 7:00 PM ET.
The match between the Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic will be telecast live on NBC Sports Washington, Bally Sports Florida, Fox Sports Florida.
| Country | Channel | Date and Time |
| United States | NBC Sports Washington, Bally Sports Florida, Fox Sports Florida. | March 31 (7:00 PM ET) |
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