The Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 118-98 on Thursday night at Kia Center, powered by Jalen Suggs’ first career triple-double and balanced scoring across the rotation. Orlando improved to 26-24 and strengthened its position in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings, while Brooklyn fell to 13-37 after its 15th loss in 17 games.
Suggs finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in 29 minutes, adding four blocks and three steals in his seventh game back from a right knee injury. His two-way impact helped control pace early and limited Brooklyn’s transition opportunities.
Desmond Bane led the Magic with 23 points, and Paolo Banchero added 22 while attacking mismatches inside the arc. Orlando shot 54% from the field and recorded 32 assists, reflecting consistent ball movement and spacing against a defense that struggled to contain dribble penetration.
Anthony Black contributed 18 points and five assists, giving the starting unit another creator alongside Suggs. Moritz Wagner added 14 points and five rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench, helping the home team maintain scoring runs when the starters rested.
The Florida club built a 21-point lead in the first half and pushed the margin to 26 during the third quarter by forcing turnovers and converting quickly in transition. Orlando finished with 14 steals and 11 blocks, turning defensive pressure into efficient offense.
Brooklyn received a career-high 26 points from rookie Egor Demin, who made six of 10 shots from three-point range. Fellow rookie Nolan Traore added 21 points and seven assists, providing playmaking flashes despite the team’s overall shooting struggles.
Michael Porter Jr., the Nets’ leading scorer entering the game, finished with nine points on 2-for-13 shooting, which limited Brooklyn’s half-court efficiency. The visiting side shot 41.5% overall and committed 19 turnovers, continuing a season-long trend as the league’s lowest-scoring offense.
Nic Claxton scored 14 points on efficient interior finishing, but the Nets were unable to generate sustained defensive stops once Orlando established a rhythm in the paint. Brooklyn attempted 39 three-pointers yet converted only 12, allowing the Magic to protect the lead without late-game pressure.
Orlando now begins a stretch of four consecutive home games against teams with losing records, starting with Utah on Saturday. Brooklyn returns home to face Washington, seeking to stabilize a lineup that has struggled to create consistent scoring balance.
