Franz Wagner scored 36 points, Cole Anthony added 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, and the Orlando Magic defeated the Chicago Bulls 114-108 in overtime Saturday night.
Wagner scored the first shot in overtime off an offensive rebound as the Bulls produced a late rally, giving him his second consecutive 30-point game. They knotted it on DeMar DeRozan’s three-pointer with 45.9 seconds left in regulation, but the Magic took the lead into overtime.
Paolo Banchero had 19 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds for Orlando, which defeated the Bulls for the third time this season. Anthony, Jonathan Isaac, and Goga Bitadze, who saw minimal action, all made significant defensive and rebounding contributions for the Magic.
“These guys who hadn’t played any minutes came in and stepped up tremendously,” coach Jamahl Mosley said.
DeRozan led Chicago with 28 points. Nikola Vucevic had 26 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulls, while Ayo Dosunmu had 19 despite picking up five fouls throughout the game.
Fouls were a major issue for the Bulls, who had to change their rotation when Andre Drummond was called for four in the first half.
“I think foul trouble really exhausted our team, quite honestly,” coach Billy Donovan said. “I think we were quite weary coming down the stretch. I don’t mean to use it as an excuse, but I felt like we were gassed.”
DeRozan, Vucevic, and Coby White each played more than 43 minutes.
“I’m pretty sure everybody is tired,” DeRozan stated. “At this stage in the season, everyone is looking forward to a break. We have to leave everything out there.”
White finished with 14 points and seven assists, shooting 5 for 21 after four consecutive 20-plus scoring games at 50% or above.
Dosunmu and DeRozan completed the first half with 3-pointers, cutting the Magic’s early 10-point advantage to 52-50 at the intermission.
The Bulls made their first five shots of the second half, completing a 15-0 run and leading 59-52. Late in the third quarter, Dalen Terry’s slam increased their lead to 11 points.
DeRozan threatened to take over the game until the Magic put Isaac on him late in the third quarter, altering his shots.
“We have a defensive belt that we started giving out after games, but it will just stay in his locker,” Anthony said of Isaac, who stands 6-foot-11. “I told Jonathan, ‘You’re the best defender I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Isaac played a season-high 25 minutes and finished with 12 rebounds, seven points, and three blocks.
Wagner’s trio of 3-pointers helped Orlando reclaim the lead in the fourth, but DeRozan’s three-point play with 45.9 seconds remaining tied the game at 101. Both teams missed shots in the last 20 seconds of regulation.
