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Magic stop 6-game losing streak by beating Kings 111-107 behind 30 points from Banchero

Magic stop 6-game losing streak by beating Kings 111-107 behind 30 points from Banchero | iNFOnews.ca
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) holds the ball against Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the Orlando Magic stopped a six-game losing streak with a 111-107 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.

Banchero logged his third straight game of 30-plus points for the Magic (39-34), who fell below the play-in cut in the Eastern Conference during their skid that came immediately after a seven-game winning streak had propelled them into fifth place.

This was the 25th time in Banchero’s four-year career that he logged at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists. Only Tracy McGrady (66) has more such games.

Desmond Bane added 23 points and Jalen Suggs returned from a two-game absence to an illness with eight points and four assists in 34 minutes for Orlando, which forged a three-way tie with Charlotte and Miami for eighth. Atlanta (41-32), Toronto (40-32) and Philadelphia (40-33) are just ahead, with the top six teams in each conference guaranteed a spot in the playoffs without having to go through the play-in games.

DeMar DeRozan had 33 points and 11 assists for the Kings, who sliced a nine-point deficit with a little more than two minutes left down to 116-115 on Daeqwon Plowden’s 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds to go. Suggs answered with a 3-pointer with 27.4 seconds remaining to give the Magic a bigger cushion.

Plowden added 23 points on 6-for-10 shooting from 3-point range and Precious Achiuwa had 14 points and nine rebounds for Sacramento (19-55), which is in last place in the Western Conference.

Up next

Sacramento plays at Atlanta on Saturday. Orlando plays at Toronto on Sunday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Magic stop 6-game losing streak by beating Kings 111-107 behind 30 points from Banchero | iNFOnews.ca
Orlando Magic center/forward Wendell Carter Jr. (34) fights for the ball with Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud (42) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)
Magic stop 6-game losing streak by beating Kings 111-107 behind 30 points from Banchero | iNFOnews.ca
Sacramento Kings guard/forward DeMar DeRozan (10) shoots over Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)
Magic stop 6-game losing streak by beating Kings 111-107 behind 30 points from Banchero | iNFOnews.ca
Sacramento Kings forward Doug McDermott (7) lays the ball up during the first half of an NBA basketball game, against the Orlando Magic, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)
Magic stop 6-game losing streak by beating Kings 111-107 behind 30 points from Banchero | iNFOnews.ca
Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan (10) looks to shoot against Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)

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