Lakers Fall 110-109 as Magic Steal Win with Late Putback
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The Los Angeles Lakers dropped a 110-109 heart-breaker to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, Feb. 24, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena.
Wendell Carter Jr. delivered the decisive basket, tipping in a Paolo Banchero miss with 6.7 seconds remaining. LeBron James had a final chance for Los Angeles but missed a baseline fadeaway at the buzzer.
Early control slips away
James opened with 10 quick points, including two early three-pointers, helping the Lakers build a 17-10 advantage. Luka Doncic, who briefly grabbed his face after contact from Moe Wagner, stayed in the game and buried a three on the next trip. James and Doncic both finished the first quarter in double figures as Los Angeles led 33-25.
Carter kept Orlando close, scoring inside while rookie Tristan da Silva knocked down consecutive threes. Deandre Ayton answered with five straight points for the Lakers, who took a 56-53 edge into halftime after both clubs struggled to score late in the second period.
Momentum swings in second half
Austin Reaves, scoreless before the break, keyed a 9-0 run to open the third quarter with seven points and a lob to James, putting L.A. up by double digits. The offense stalled, though, and Banchero erupted for 17 third-quarter points, trimming Orlando’s deficit to 80-79 entering the fourth.
The Magic grabbed the lead with the first two buckets of the final period. Reaves responded with a three and a three-point play to even the score at 98 apiece with about five minutes left. Doncic, despite a cold shooting night, hit back-to-back jumpers and set up Rui Hachimura for a corner three that briefly restored the Lakers’ lead.
Banchero countered with an and-one, and Desmond Bane’s three put Orlando ahead, 108-107, in the final minute. After a timeout, Doncic found a cutting James for a dunk, but Carter’s tip-in on the next possession proved to be the winner.
Up next
The Lakers head out for Pacific Division matchups against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday and the Golden State Warriors on Saturday before returning to host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Source: LakersNation.com
