Paolo Banchero's Heroics Lift Orlando Magic to Win vs. Utah Jazz

The Orlando Magic finished its road trip on the right note after beating the Utah Jazz.

ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic is heading back home happy after a 115-113 win against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night at the Delta Center.

After losing two straight coming into the game, the Magic made it a mission to get back in the win column, and it came on a hard-fought victory against the Jazz.

Momentum had gone up, down and to the side throughout the game. Each team led by double figures at one point, but Orlando held that lead early in the second half, forcing Utah to play catch up.

The Jazz stayed in and trailed by five with 90 seconds to go, but Lauri Markkanen knocked down a pair of threes in the game's final possessions to take a one-point lead against the Magic with 20 seconds to play.

Down by a point, Paolo Banchero came in the clutch and drove into the lane to re-take the lead.

Talen Horton-Tucker took a 3-point shot to try and grab the lead back from the Magic, but he wasn't able to find the bottom of the net, allowing Orlando to shoot free throws on the other end.

The Jazz had a final look, but a turnover finished the job for the Magic.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) dunks the ball against the Utah Jazz in the second quarter at the Delta Center / Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

With Markelle Fultz sitting out with knee swelling, Banchero stepped up after struggling for the early part of the road trip. Banchero had his best game of the season, scoring a game-high 30 on 9 of 13 shooting. He bought real estate at the free throw line, sinking 11 of 15 from the charity stripe.

The injury bug also stung Gary Harris, who started in place of Fultz but left after 14 minutes of action with a groin injury. That opened the door for No. 6 overall pick Anthony Black to see some action, and he scored nine points on a perfect shooting night from the floor in 16 crucial minutes off the bench. Wendell Carter Jr. also left the game late with a hand injury.

The Magic returns home after a long four-game road trip when it hosts LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 ET.