The Lakers (45-25) aim to extend their winning streak with a victory over the Magic (38-31) on Saturday.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic
When: 4 p.m. PT, Mar 21
Where: Kia Center
Watch: NBA TV, Spectrum Sportsnet
When the Lakers last faced the Magic in February, they were in the midst of a slump where it seemed like their season was falling apart.
Fast forward to a month later, the purple and gold have completely turned things around and are now in the midst of their longest winning streak of the season.
A lot of this has to do with Luka Dončić’s MVP surge as of late, the team coming into form and each player accepting their role. We’re currently seeing the best version of this Lakers team.
Orlando is currently on a three-game losing streak and determined to get back in the win column and stay afloat in the playoff race. So fans should expect the Magic to fight hard in this one. They’re still waiting on Franz Wagner to get healthy, but that doesn’t mean they can’t beat the Lakers.
It was Paolo Banchero who led the Magic against the Lakers last time. LA had no answer for his 36 points. It’ll be interesting to see how this improved defense contains Banchero and other offensive threats like Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr., if he suits up. It’ll also be fascinating to see how the Magic come up with a game plan to not only contain Dončić but also Austin Reaves and LeBron James.
In their last meeting, the Lakers disappointingly allowed 15 second-chance points and 58 points in the paint to the Magic. They also lost the rebounding battle 47-39. Orlando is not a good 3-point shooting team, which is why they combat that with their presence inside the paint. The Lakers must be more impactful inside the paint if they want to win this one.
Let’s see if the Lakers can make it nine in a row against the Magic on Saturday.
Notes and Updates
- For the Lakers’ injury report, Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) is out, while Austin Reaves is questionable.
- As for the Magic, Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain), Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) and Anthony Black (lateral abdominal) are out. Moreover, Wendell Carter Jr. (left rib contusion) is questionable.
You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.
