When the Magic defeated the Nets by one point on Jan. 7, Orlando needed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Paolo Banchero to escape Brooklyn on top in overtime.
Thursday night at Kia Center, however, Jamahl Mosley‘s squad handled its business against the 13-win squad by leading wire-to-wire and by as many as 26 points in a 118-98 victory to snap a two-game skid.
Playing in its first game following the NBA trade deadline, the Magic were powered by a combined 78 points from Desmond Bane (23 points), Paolo Banchero (22), Anthony Black (18) and Jalen Suggs (15).
“They did a great job starting the game off,” Mosley said about his team that outscored Brooklyn 27-19 in the opening quarter. “Knowing that we set the tone with our defense, that’s what these guys did. There was a seriousness to them.”
The 20-point loss is Brooklyn’s third straight and 15th in its last 17 contests.
The Nets (13-37) couldn’t slow down Orlando from penetrating in the paint when they were outscored 64-40 in that area of the floor.
The Magic (26-24) remain at home when the Jazz make their lone trip of the season to Kia Center on Saturday.
Super Suggs
The All-Defensive guard did a little bit of everything on both ends of the court when he recorded his first-career triple-double.
Whether it was flying high to slam down a lob from Jett Howard late in the second quarter or showing off his athleticism with a 360-degree dunk off a steal early in the third, Suggs provided a major boost of energy for Orlando.
In addition to knocking down three 3-pointers, he racked up 11 assists, 11 rebounds, three steals and a new career-high four blocks in 29 minutes.
“He was great tonight,” Mosley said about Suggs. “His energy, his poise, his focus on the defensive end … It was beautiful basketball.”
Added Suggs: “To be honest, I don’t even get into individual accomplishments and stuff like that … but it is pretty special, knowing that my big brother (Tyus Jones) left today.”
Bane and Banchero
Although Bane missed his first four 3-pointers, that didn’t slow him down from attacking the basket early and often. Notching 16 points in the first half, the Magic guard scored 20-plus points for the 23rd time this season.
Similarly, Banchero pieced together an 11-point first-half and added six in the third by driving downhill and getting to the free throw line, where he shot 6 for 8.
Bane also shot 8 for 9 at the charity stripe and both players dished out four assists.
“They played the right way, us being able to have 32 assists, holding them under 100 points, that is a big mark for this group right now,” Mosley said.
Wagner’s way
Magic backup center Moe Wagner looked more like his former self during Thursday’s game than compared to the first nine contests he played since returning from a torn left ACL.
Taking a charge late in the first quarter and cutting to the basket for an electric dunk late in the third quarter, Wagner provided a spark off the bench.
He scored an efficient 14 points in 12 minutes shooting 6 for 10 from the floor with five rebounds.
Rookie watch
Following the departure of veteran guard Tyus Jones, who Orlando sent to Charlotte on Wednesday night, first-rounder Jase Richardson was first off Orlando’s bench against Brooklyn.
The 20-year-old guard played 23 minutes but missed all four of his shots from the floor, making one free throw with two rebounds.
Second-round pick Noah Penda only saw six minutes of action the first three quarters but played more than half of the fourth with the final result already determined. He was held scoreless.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com