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Desmond Bane and Paolo Banchero lead Magic to 119-92 road win over Timberwolves

AuthorEditorial Team
Published
March 7, 2026/05:49 PM
Section
Sport
Desmond Bane and Paolo Banchero lead Magic to 119-92 road win over Timberwolves

Orlando controls the glass and the foul line in Minneapolis

The Orlando Magic earned a 119-92 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Saturday, March 7, 2026, improving to 34-28 while Minnesota fell to 40-24. Orlando built separation after the opening quarter and steadily widened the margin, holding Minnesota to 14 points in the fourth period.

Desmond Bane led Orlando with 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Although he went 0-for-5 from three-point range, Bane scored efficiently by getting to the line, finishing 10-for-10 on free throws, and adding four assists. Paolo Banchero posted 25 points and 15 rebounds, giving Orlando a consistent interior scoring and rebounding presence while also contributing three assists.

Key stretches: second-quarter swing and a decisive fourth

Minnesota led 30-27 after the first quarter, but Orlando’s second quarter flipped the game. The Magic outscored the Timberwolves 33-20 in the period to take control at halftime, then maintained the advantage with a 30-28 third quarter before closing the game with a 29-14 fourth.

Jalen Suggs added 14 points for Orlando, hitting three three-pointers (3-of-8) and recording four assists with two steals and a block. Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, plus six rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes. Orlando also received a balanced bench effort, led by Tristan da Silva’s 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Jett Howard’s nine points.

Statistical profile: Orlando’s rebounding edge and Minnesota’s cold shooting

Orlando’s control of the paint and the boards shaped the outcome. The Magic finished with a 69-47 rebounding advantage, including 15 offensive rebounds, generating extra possessions that helped offset a modest 9-of-34 performance from three-point range.

  • Field goals: Orlando 42-of-91 (46.2%), Minnesota 30-of-84 (35.7%)
  • Three-pointers: Orlando 9-of-34 (26.5%), Minnesota 9-of-40 (22.5%)
  • Free throws: Orlando 26-of-31 (83.9%), Minnesota 23-of-31 (74.2%)
  • Assists: Orlando 28, Minnesota 17

For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards scored 34 points with five made threes (5-of-9) and went 13-of-14 at the line. Beyond Edwards, Minnesota struggled to convert perimeter opportunities: Donte DiVincenzo was 0-for-6 from the field and 0-for-6 from three, while Jaden McDaniels went 0-for-9 overall and 0-for-4 from deep.

Final score: Magic 119, Timberwolves 92 — Orlando outscored Minnesota by 15 points after halftime and by 15 in the fourth quarter alone.

The result underscored Orlando’s ability to win decisively on the road through defensive containment, rebounding volume, and high free-throw conversion, while Minnesota’s offense outside Edwards never established consistent efficiency.