NBA: Raptors defeat Magic on Ja’Kobe Walter game-winner
Mar 4, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Ja’Kobe Walter (14) goes to the basket in front of Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the second half at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Rookie Ja’Kobe Walter sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter as the visiting Toronto Raptors posted a 114-113 victory over the Orlando Magic in the NBA on Tuesday.
After Paolo Banchero made a pair of free throws to give Orlando a 113-111 lead with 4.8 seconds to play, Walter carved out just enough room on rookie Tristan da Silva and sank the go-ahead 3-pointer.
Toronto’s RJ Barrett collected 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and Walter joined Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl with 17 points each.
READ: NBA: Bulls turn it on late, hand Raptors OT loss
Barnes also had 13 rebounds. A.J. Lawson added 13 points off the bench for the Raptors, who defeated the Magic for the second time in three days. Toronto posted a 104-102 victory over Orlando on Sunday.
Ja'Kobe Walter wild 3 for the win ‼️
The rook wins it for the @Raptors 😲 pic.twitter.com/um27XE7MeS
— NBA (@NBA) March 5, 2025
Banchero scored 22 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter on Tuesday. Banchero, who made 14 of 20 shots from the floor — including 4 of 5 from 3-point range — also had eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
Franz Wagner scored 28 points for Orlando, which was outrebounded 35-48 and outscored 38-50 in points in the paint en route to losing its fourth straight game.
Lawson made a layup and a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions to give Toronto a 107-101 lead before Banchero single-handedly kept his team within striking distance. He made a pair of driving layups and a pair of 3-pointers to forge a tie with 33.1 seconds to play before sinking two free throws with 4.8 seconds left to give the Magic a 113-111 lead.
Toronto outscored Orlando 31-19 in the third quarter and extended its lead to 90-78 after Poeltl converted a three-point play early in the fourth quarter.
Barnes sank a 3-pointer to give Toronto a 44-43 lead with 3:01 remaining in the second before Orlando responded with an 11-6 run to end the quarter. da Silva drained a pair of 3-pointers and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope connected from beyond the arc at the buzzer during that surge. –Field Level Media
