Franz Wagner & Magic Hand Lakers first home loss

The Los Angeles Lakers were hoping to keep things rolling Thursday night, looking for their seventh straight win while hosting the Orlando Magic. It marked the debut of the Lakers’ 2024–25 City Edition uniforms and court.

The Lakers are undefeated at home this season, but were unable to keep it and their streak going, losing to the Magic 119-118 on a game-winner by Franz Wagner.

Cam Reddish had five early points, including a corner triple, to help the Lakers jump out to a quick 12-7 lead. While the Magic got hot from there and took the lead, Anthony Davis went to work inside to continue his strong start to the season.

Overall, not much defense was played in the first quarter by either team, and as a result, the Lakers took a 38-36 lead into the second.

The second quarter started with a pair of post dunks as Mo Wagner got the Lakers going, and then LeBron James immediately responded with one of his own. That got James going as he immediately went into attack mode.

Also with Mo, Franz Wagner also had a strong first half for the Magic, while Jalen Suggs was hot from deep. Orlando had trouble handling Davis inside, though, and when Reddish then hit the break with another corner 3, the Lakers went into the halftime locker room leading 67-60.

James hit a triple and then had a big block to begin the third quarter. While Dalton Knecht continued his hot streak with a 3-pointer, the Magic were also able to keep their strong shooting night going. That led to a 13-3 Orlando run to regain the lead before a three-point play by Davis.

The Magic’s zone defense slowed the Lakers offensively to end the third quarter, resulting in a narrow 89-88 deficit for LA entering the fourth.

After the Lakers fell behind by four, Knecht responded with five quick points to help them regain the lead. James began to take over from there, making three straight triples to put his team up 105-98. However, Franz Wagner had an immediate response as the game remained close into the final minutes.

Wagner was a real thorn in the side of the Lakers when he then hit a deep 3 to put his team up by one. James got an offensive rebound and scored at the other end to regain the lead. He then found Davis for a dunk, but Wagner drilled a deep triple to put his team one up with 2.5 seconds to play.

Davis, who missed some key free throws late, then missed at the buzzer as LA would go on to suffer the disappointing loss.

What’s next for the Lakers

The Lakers face an even tougher test Saturday night when they host the Denver Nuggets, who, of course, were eliminated from the playoffs each of the last two seasons.

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