NBA roundup: Magic snap Cavs win streak with 13-point comeback

Paolo Banchero, contributed 24 points as the Orlando Magic rallied from a 13-point deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-103 on the road, thereby ending the Cavaliers' impressive 16-game unbeaten streak in the NBA on Sunday.

Cleveland, leading the Eastern Conference by a significant margin, appeared set to extend their franchise-record winning streak after establishing a comfortable lead over Orlando early in the third quarter.

However, in a season marked by their own remarkable comebacks, the Magic turned the tide against Cleveland with a remarkable scoring surge.

Orlando outscored Cleveland 35-23 in the third quarter, with Franz Wagner spearheading the effort with nine points and Banchero contributing seven.

Despite Cleveland holding a narrow 83-82 advantage heading into the final quarter and attempting to pull away again after Donovan Mitchell's dunk increased their lead to 91-84, Orlando remained resilient.

Wagner added eight points in the closing quarter, while Banchero and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each contributed five points, leading the Magic to victory and quieting the 19,432 fans at Cleveland's Rocket Arena.

Banchero, the former No. 1 NBA Draft pick, concluded the game with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while Wagner recorded 22 points, eight rebounds, and two assists, helping Orlando improve to 32-37 and maintain their position in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

"It's a big win," Banchero said after what was the final leg of a five-game road trip for Orlando. "We knew this was going to be probably the toughest game of the trip."

"To come in here... against one of the better teams in the league, also on a win streak - big win."

Mitchell topped the scoring for Cleveland with 23 points, while Jarrett Allen contributed 20 points and Darius Garland added 19.

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson commended Orlando's performance, noting that it highlighted the depth of talent present in the league.

"Huge credit to them," Atkinson said. "This league is humbling, and if you think you've won 16 in a row or whatever, right around the corner is a playoff team and a tough team to play."

The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their steady ascent toward securing the top seed in the Western Conference with a decisive road win against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a contender for the NBA Most Valuable Player award, spearheaded the Thunder's offense with 31 points, helping Oklahoma City improve their record to 56-12, which places them a significant 13 games ahead of the second-place Houston Rockets.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the Lakers ended a four-game losing streak and dealt a setback to the Phoenix Suns' playoff aspirations with a strong performance.

Currently positioned 11th in the Western Conference and just outside the play-in spots, the Suns are in urgent need of victories to enhance their chances of making the postseason.

However, the Lakers, bolstered by Luka Doncic's 33 points and a solid outing from Austin Reaves, who contributed 28 points, secured a comfortable win, leaving the Suns with a record of 31-37 in the Western Conference standings.

In a surprising turn of events, the Philadelphia 76ers achieved a 130-125 victory against the Dallas Mavericks while playing away from home. Quentin Grimes was the standout performer for the undermanned Sixers, who were without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Kelly Oubre Jr., as he concluded the game with 28 points.