NBA: Magic continue playoff push with win over Timberwolves

Paolo Banchero had 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Orlando Magic beat the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 132-120 on Wednesday for their fourth consecutive victory.

Desmond Bane scored 18 points and Franz Wagner added 17 for Orlando (44-36), which moved into seventh place in the tight Eastern Conference standings, one-half game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers (43-36) with two games remaining.

Goga Bitadze had 14 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, Tristan da Silva added 12 points, and Jalen Suggs and Jevon Carter finished with 11 apiece. Orlando led by as many as 24 in the third quarter and completed a two-game season sweep against the Wolves.

Terrence Shannon Jr. set career highs with five 3-pointers and 33 points for short-handed Minnesota (47-33), which clinched the sixth position in the Western Conference on Tuesday.

Jaden McDaniels returned after missing six games with a knee injury and scored 18 points in 19 minutes. Naz Reid had 15 points and Donte DiVincenzo added 12.

Minnesota was outrebounded 48-33 and lost for the fourth time in its last five games.

The Wolves played without Anthony Edwards (right knee injury), Rudy Gobert (rest), Julius Randle (hand), Ayo Dosunmu (calf) and Mike Conley (rest).

The Magic shot 53.7% (51 of 95) from the field and 41.4% (12 of 29) from 3-point range.

Orlando opened its final home game of the season by taking a 34-32 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Minnesota pulled within 51-50 on Reid's 3-pointer with 3:55 left in the second quarter before the Magic closed on a 12-3 run to lead 63-53 at the half.

Orlando shot 55.3% from the field in the first half and carried the momentum into the third quarter. Suggs scored eight points during a 22-6 run to put the Magic ahead 89-70 with 4:25 left in the period.

Orlando ended the third quarter leading 101-83 and maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the final period. Carter scored to extend the lead to 124-102 with 5:02 remaining.

-Field Level Media/Reuters