The Phoenix Suns (12-11) held the lead for most of the game but collapsed in the fourth, allowing the Orlando Magic (17-9) to run away with a 115-110 victory on December 9. It was the third straight game in which the Suns had the advantage heading into halftime, but they lost all three.
The Magic remained perfect at home, improving to 10-0, despite losing Franz Wagner to a torn right oblique—the same injury suffered by fellow star Paolo Banchero. Jalen Suggs was the driving force, scoring 26 points (14 in the fourth) while Goga Bitadze had a huge night, posting 22 points, 4 assists, and 16 rebounds.
Devin Booker paced the Suns with 25 points, 7 assists and 4 steals. Royce O’Neale chipped in 16 points and 7 rebounds. Tyus Jones tallied 21 points and 6 assists while Bradley Beal added 18. Phoenix’s struggles continued, dropping their sixth consecutive defeat on the road. They are now 1-9 without Kevin Durant.
Suggs and Bitadze Rise to the Occasion
The Suns looked unstoppable early, going on a 17-2 run to build a double-digit lead. But the Magic recovered late, cutting the deficit to five points. It was a tit-for-tat battle in the second, with the game even at 52. But Phoenix ended the half strong with a 10-2 surge.
The Suns continued to fire in the third, pushing their lead to (70-59). But the Magic erupted on a furious 21-8 rally and took control momentarily before Booker stepped up and put the Suns back in front by three. Suggs ignited the Magic’s fourth-quarter charge, scoring eight consecutive points and then feeding Black for a basket, putting the Magic up (105-100). O’Neale fired back with a clutch three-pointer to pull the Suns within one point. But Suggs answered with a four-point burst and Bitadze made huge plays down the stretch to clinch the win.
The Suns travel to Utah on Saturday while the Magic face the Bucks on Wednesday for the NBA Cup Quarterfinals.
