How Franz Wagner's 'Movie Moment' Overcame LeBron, AD in Magic's Win Over Lakers

Franz Wagner's three-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining gave the Orlando Magic a 119-118 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony Davis and LeBron James combined for 70 points but missed four free throws in the final 39 seconds.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) hits a 3-point basket over Los Angeles Lakers forward Cam Reddish (5) with 2.5 seconds left in the game at Crypto.com Arena. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

It was an ending made for Hollywood.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis were putting on their best closing act, scoring the final 23 points of the Los Angeles Lakers' fourth quarter. But when the Hall of Famers missed four of their last six free throws, they left the door open for another star.

Enter Franz Wagner, whose step-back three-pointer hit nothing but nylon with 2.5 seconds to go and gave the Orlando Magic their best win of the season, 119-118.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) celebrates after a 3-point basket with 2.5 seconds left in the game to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

"It was big-time," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. "They missed the free throw, make it a two-point game. He comes down, doesn't have to rush it, lines it up. That's the thing, we work on those spacing situations, those shots. He works on those shots. He's not afraid of big moments, and that's what we've asked him to do."

As if the Lakers were not enough of a challenge, the Magic were down three starters – All-Star Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. to injury and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope due to the birth of his family's fifth child – and playing the second night of a back-to-back against a team that hadn't lost on its home floor.

But the Magic kept pace with the Lakers, with a little luck and a lot of Franz.

"I could not be happier for this team, but for him, who puts in such an amazing amount of work, to see that fall," Mosley said. "This group, they battle. They battled this entire game, and I can't say enough about this group, can't say enough about Franz."

The Lakers' Davis, who scored 39 points, had four chances in the final 30 seconds to secure the win. With the score 117-114, Wagner front-rimmed a three-point try. Davis made one of two free throws for a four-point lead. Wagner then drove to the basket to again make the margin two points. With 18 seconds left, AD had two more chances to put the game away and missed both foul shots.

"I was a little mad I missed the first (three-point attempt), so I was glad I got another shot," Wagner said in his on-court postgame interview.

Matched up with Davis, Jalen Suggs' screen switched Cam Reddish onto Wagner. Between the legs, between the legs, step-back three.

Ballgame.

FRANZ CALLS GAME@franzboogie https://t.co/KIkC3lwYLt pic.twitter.com/0yat4TOPa1

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 22, 2024

As Jalen Suggs sat down behind the microphone after the game, all he could do was laugh as he was asked to recount his perspective of Wagner's triple.

"I just stared at him, I said, 'Boog, you gotta hit it,'" Suggs said, his smile ear-to-ear. "Man, he got to his bag, step back, shot the rainbow and it went in. That's like a movie moment."

I LOVE THIS TEAM pic.twitter.com/1ywItlsyNH

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 22, 2024

Wagner said he was looking only for the best shot, not dead-set on taking a game-winning three.

"They were set up pretty well, so I didn't really see any driving lane," he said. "The one before felt really good. In those moments, you don't really think too much, but I guess I made a good call.

"Down two, you never just want to settle for a shot, but the way they were playing me ... I do work on my off-the-dribble three a lot, and you work on it for those moments. I stepped into it with confidence and I felt really good."

Wagner finished with a season-high 37 points – 15 in the fourth quarter – to go with six rebounds, 11 assists and four steals.

Suggs added 23 points with five threes. Moe Wagner added a season-high 19 off the bench.

Davis and James combined for 70 points and 19 rebounds. Dalton Knecht had 17.

It's a long, happy flight home for the Magic, who improved to 10-7.

Up Next

The Magic return home for a one-off home game Saturday evening against the Detroit Pistons. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at the Kia Center.

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