By ASSOCIATED PRESS
CLEVELAND (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 24 points, Franz Wagner added 22 and the Orlando Magic stunned Cleveland, 108-103, on Sunday, March 16, to end the Cavaliers’ winning streak at 16 games.
The Cavs lost for the first time since Feb. 4 as the Eastern Conference leaders were unable to put away the Magic in the final minutes. Cleveland missed five shots — three by All-Star Donovan Mitchell — in the final minute.
Banchero’s 16-foot jumper put the Magic ahead 104-103, and after a badly missed 3-pointer by Cleveland’s De’Andre Hunter, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made two free throws with 31 seconds left to give Orlando a three-point lead.
Max Strus missed a potential tying 3-pointer on Cleveland’s next possession and Orlando’s defense swarmed Mitchell, who misfired on a pair of 3s.
Banchero shot just 6 of 22 but added 11 rebounds and seven assists. Wendell Carter Jr. added 16 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando.
Mitchell returned after missing two games with a sore groin and finished with 23 points. Jarrett Allen added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs, who were denied becoming the first team since Phoenix in 2021 to win 17 straight.
The NBA-leading Cavs played without All-Star forward Evan Mobley, who has been dealing with a bruised foot.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic had 33 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped their four-game losing streak with a 107-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Austin Reaves scored 28 points and Jaxson Hayes matched his season high with 19 for the Lakers, who returned from an 0-4 road trip to extend their home winning streak to seven games.
Kevin Durant scored 21 points and Devin Booker had 19 for the 11th-place Suns, who missed a chance to gain ground on Dallas for the West’s final play-in spot after the Mavericks lost at Philadelphia. Phoenix remained 1 1/2 games behind Dallas with a game in hand.
LeBron James (left groin strain) missed his fourth straight game, but coach JJ Redick said the top scorer in NBA history is “ramping up” toward a return.
Lakers starter Rui Hachimura (knee) also missed his ninth straight game, but Doncic (ankle) returned after sitting out Friday’s loss in Denver, as did Hayes, Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent.
In Portland, Anfernee Simons scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, Toumani Camara finished with 21 and the Trail Blazers rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors, 105-102, to snap a five-game skid.
Portland made 18 3-pointers, with Simons hitting six — four in the fourth quarter — and Camara tied his career high with five.
In Minneapolis, Anthony Edwards scored 41 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves won their eighth straight, beating the Utah Jazz, 128-102.
Jaden McDaniels had a double-double by halftime and finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Donte DiVincenzo had 11 points and seven assists for the Timberwolves, who are in a tight battle with Golden State for sixth place in the Western Conference.
In New York, Cam Johnson scored 28 points, Keon Johnson added 22 and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Atlanta Hawks, 122-114.
Tyrese Martin had 16 points for the Nets, who snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in 12 games. Jalen Wilson and Trendon Watford finished with 13 points apiece.
In Los Angeles, James Harden had 31 points and 10 rebounds, Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points and the Clippers beat Charlotte, 123-88.
Ivica Zubac added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers (38-30). He made two foul shots with 5:43 left before halftime to give the Clippers 45-34 lead and they led by double digits for the remainder of the game.
