Wendell Carter Jr.’s late putback lifts Magic past Lakers 110-109 to cap West Coast trip
A one-possession finish decided in the final seconds
LOS ANGELES — Wendell Carter Jr. scored the decisive basket on a go-ahead putback with 6.7 seconds remaining as the Orlando Magic edged the Los Angeles Lakers 110-109 on Tuesday night, Feb. 24, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. The play capped a frantic closing stretch in which both teams traded late leads and the outcome hinged on a missed box-out and an offensive rebound.
The Lakers had one final chance after Carter’s tip-in, but the last possession ended with LeBron James missing a 27-foot fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer. The sequence came after an inbounds play that did not produce a shot for Luka Doncic despite him receiving the ball beyond the arc in space before Orlando’s defense closed in.
How Orlando created the winning possession
Orlando’s final score was born from second-chance effort. With the Magic trailing by one in the final moments, Paolo Banchero’s pull-up attempt fell short, and the Lakers were unable to finish the defensive possession with a rebound. Carter converted the loose-ball opportunity at the rim to put Orlando in front.
Banchero was the game’s leading scorer with 36 points, adding 10 rebounds and six assists. Carter finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Desmond Bane added 22 points. Bane’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 34.6 seconds left was one of several momentum swings that defined the final minute.
Lakers’ late execution and a defining final play
Los Angeles received 22 points and 15 assists from Doncic, with James and Deandre Ayton scoring 21 apiece. Austin Reaves added 18 points in the second half. Still, the Lakers’ final possession after Carter’s basket became a focal point: James inbounded to Doncic, who declined the initial shot, took a dribble, then picked up the ball under pressure and passed back to James for a contested attempt.
The closing sequence included a missed free throw by James with 44.7 seconds left that would have extended the lead, followed by Bane’s 3-pointer and the decisive offensive rebound that set up Carter’s winner.
What the result means going forward
The victory concluded a strong West Coast trip for Orlando and continued a post-break surge that has moved the Magic closer to the Eastern Conference’s top six. For the Lakers, the loss marked another narrow defeat during a homestand that ended at 4-4 and featured several tight finishes.
- Final score: Magic 110, Lakers 109
- Decisive play: Carter’s go-ahead putback with 6.7 seconds left
- Top performers: Banchero (36 points), Bane (22), Carter (20 points, 12 rebounds); Doncic (22 points, 15 assists), James (21), Ayton (21)
Both teams return to action Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, with Orlando hosting Houston and Los Angeles traveling to Phoenix.