The Orlando Magic (34-38) seized control with a dominant third quarter and cruised to a 118-106 victory over the struggling Los Angeles Lakers (43-28) on March 25.
Orlando Magic Top Performers:
Franz Wagner 32 PTS | 5 REB | 9 AST | 52.5 FPS
Franz put up a monster offensive performance today, recording his fourteenth 30-point game of the season. This came after a stretch of scoring 20+ points in his last three games, following a period earlier this month when he only reached 15+ points in four games. However, he continues to face challenges in his three-point shooting, and his free-throw production remains lacking. On a positive note, his rebounding and playmaking have been trending upward after an inconsistent start to the month. As a central figure in the lineup, he should be able to build on this momentum and elevate his performances in the games ahead.
Paolo Banchero 30 PTS | 10-12 FT | 7 REB | 38.9 FPS
Paolo has been outstanding offensively this month, scoring 20+ points in eleven consecutive games, including six games with 30 or more. He’s been highly efficient, shooting nearly 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 80% from the free-throw line. His rebounding has also been consistent, though he hasn’t been able to do the same in his playmaking. However, with a favorable schedule ahead, he’s well-positioned to continue his strong production.
Anthony Black 17 PTS | 5 REB | 6 AST | 37.0 FPS
Black has been coming off the bench with Joseph stepping into the starting role during Anthony’s absence. While he hasn’t been highly productive this month, his recent play has shown noticeable improvement, highlighted by three double-digit scoring games, solid defensive contributions, and enhanced playmaking and rebounding in his last two outings. But he can still take his game to the next level, if he can achieve consistency and reclaim his starting spot.
Wendell Carter Jr. 12 PTS | 1 3PM | 8 REB | 21.6 FPS
Carter continues to start, but his inconsistent play makes him a challenging fantasy option. That said, he has been more productive recently, recording double-digit points and grabbing 8 or more rebounds in three of his last four games.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 9 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST | 18.3 FPS
KCP remains a big part of rotation and has been a decent contributor on offense, recording 9+ points, hitting 2+ threes and also providing modest value in other categories over the last five games.
Los Angeles Lakers Top Performers:
Luka Doncic 32 PTS | 7 REB | 7 AST | 50.9 FPS
Doncic wasn’t at his best in scoring, but he still maintained a strong offensive output, shooting a near-perfect 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. This marked his third straight 30-point game and his seventh of the month. His all-around play also remained solid, and he committed fewer turnovers today, a significant improvement from his previous games. Despite his efforts, the Lakers suffered their third consecutive loss and seventh in their last ten games. When asked about their struggles, Doncic admitted they had become a bit complacent and emphasized the need for better defense. However, he’s expected to miss another game this week due to the upcoming back-to-back stretch.
LeBron James 24 PTS | 6 REB | 7 AST | 39.7 FPS
James’ performance wasn’t quite at his usual elite level, but he still turned in a solid all-around game. He shot efficiently, hitting 50% from the field, and limited himself to just two turnovers. He also appeared to be in much better shape, allowing him to play close to 40 minutes. However, he’s likely to miss a game this week with the team entering a back-to-back stretch.
Dorian Finney-Smith 14 PTS | 7 REB | 2 STL | 28.4 FPS
DFS has seen an uptick in his fantasy production since moving into the starting lineup and is likely to maintain that role, especially with Hachimura on a minutes restriction. He’s scored in double-digits and averaged 3 three-pointers in four of his last five games. He’s also quietly reliable in other areas, and is definitely worth a look for deeper formats.
Austin Reaves 18 PTS | 6 REB | 4 AST | 28.2 FPS
Reaves has been on a dominant run lately, averaging close to 30 points while also delivering solid lines in playmaking and steals in a recent five-game stretch. But haven’t been as productive in his last two games with James back in the line-up. He also had a tough time on offense today and was unable to contribute on defense. Despite that, he should be able to put up bigger performances in their next few games.
Rui Hachimura 5 PTS | 3 REB | 1 STL | 10.6 FPS
Rui has struggled to make much of an impact in his last two games and is expected to remain on a minutes restriction moving forward. He may still need additional time to fully adjust, so it’s better to keep him on the IR for now.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Gabe Vincent 4 PTS | 1 REB | 2 STL
Vincent has been a decent scoring option and a reliable three-point shooter over his past five games. While he struggled to maintain that production today, he made up for it with strong contributions in steals. His fantasy upside is somewhat limited in a star-laden lineup, but with the team heading into a back-to-back stretch this week, he’s in a good position to take on a larger role.
