標籤: Orlandos

Wendell Carter Jr. made a decisive play Tuesday night, scoring the game-winning basket to give the Orlando Magic a 110-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. After the win, Carter pointed to one word – “aggressive” – as the key to Orlando reaching another level offensively.

Carter finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes. He made 9 of 13 shots from the field and added two free throws, controlling the paint throughout the contest before getting a late putback that sealed the victory.

After the game, Carter credited his teammates for encouraging him to maintain a tenacious mindset.

“Honestly, I give my teammates a lot of credit. You know, the guys we started with, Des, P, AB, Jay Suggs, we got there, Tristan, they all encourage me. They tell me when I’m aggressive, it takes our team to a new level on the offensive end.”

He detailed how this approach affects the group beyond the box score.

“Because I do a lot of things that don’t show up in this box score night in and night out. But they say offensively when I’m aggressive it opens up another chapter for this team. So I definitely give them a lot of credit. But at the same time, processing the game, slowing it down a little bit mentally, but still playing at a fast, fast pace.”

Wendell Carter Jr. on his big offensive night, including the game-winner over the Lakers:

“I give my teammates a lot of credit. They tell me when I’m aggressive, it takes us to another level.” pic.twitter.com/UCmb2drIVB

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 25 February 2026

The Magic relied on that interior presence against Los Angeles, especially in the fourth quarter. Orlando improved to 31–26 with the win and finished their four-game Western Conference road trip with consecutive wins over both Los Angeles teams.

Wendell Carter Jr.’s aggression leads Magic past Lakers

Carter’s production this season reflects a steady role within Orlando’s rotation. In his sixth year with the franchise, the 26-year-old center has averaged 11.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 54 appearances. He is shooting 48.7% from the field, 32.2% from 3-point range and a career-high 80.1% from the free-throw line, while logging 29.6 minutes per contest.

While Carter’s game-winning effort highlighted his night, the overarching theme of aggression has come up repeatedly in Orlando’s recent surge. Teammates have emphasized that when Carter strikes decisively, whether it’s finishing at the rim, stepping into mid-range looks, or crashing the glass, it creates additional spacing and rhythm for the offense.

The Magic also got another standout performance from Paolo Banchero, who recorded 36 points, 10 rebounds and six assists against the Lakers. Orlando’s ability to generate balanced contributions on both the perimeter and interior has provided momentum entering the final stretch of the regular season.

With the road trip complete, Orlando returns home to begin a four-game homestand starting Thursday against the Houston Rockets (35-21) at 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video. As the Magic attempt to solidify their position in the Eastern Conference, Carter’s emphasis on controlled aggression may remain a central factor in maintaining their upward trajectory.