Porzingis, who has only missed five games this season, exited through the tunnel for visiting players at Capital One Arena because it was closer to where he fell on the court.
Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said Porzingis will be evaluated on Sunday but “he doesn’t think he’s too bad — fingers crossed.”
Washington was just fine without him, at least for the time being. Orlando led from 8:46 into the first quarter behind on a solid 30-point performance from Rui Hachimura and a big night from Kyle Kuzma, who was blazing from the three-point line.
“It was great,” Unseld said of Hachimura. “I love his aggression off the bench. Once he sees one or two go in, that kind of thing makes him go. He extends the floor, he makes three, and I think once that dynamic happens, they can get him off the ground.” [and] up to average. I love where he is. I thought he was well balanced in his attacks.”
The Magic (17-29) and Wizards (20-26) have similar records, but Orlando’s roster doesn’t match Washington’s talent pound for pound. The Wizards jumped out to a 14-point lead in the first quarter, doing most of the night’s work in the first half and breaking through in the second.
They went into the locker room with a 70-57 lead thanks to a quick offense that hit 10 three-pointers, including four from Kuzma. Bell had a slow start in his comeback for the second game, but the Wizards’ energetic bench—and Magic second goal Franz Wagner committed his third mistake late in the first quarter—thwarted Orlando’s hopes of narrowing the deficit.
Hachimura was aggressive off the bench and added five rebounds. Kuzma scored 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Bell scored 17 points, eight assists and four rebounds. Dillon Wright scored 15 points and eight assists off the bench. Porcingis scored 17 points in 23 minutes and went 10-for-10 from the free throw line.
Former DiMata star Markelle Fultz led the Orlando team with 23 points and eight assists.
Here’s what else you need to know about The Wizards winning:
Center Daniel Gafford looked nervous after fouling Paulo Panchero on a dunking attempt with 7:13 left in the third quarter. He walked to the locker room after grabbing what appeared to be his hand area but returned in time to start the fourth quarter. He finished the game with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Guard Jordan Goodwin is assigned to the Capital City Go-Go in the G League, which means Saturday’s game doesn’t count towards the 50 regular season games he’s allowed to play under a two-way contract. witches He would like to transfer his contract Its a record deal but you have to wait until there is room in the menu to do so.
As for the other player on a two-way contract — two teams are allowed per team — Washington released guard Devon Dotson last week, just days before the Friday deadline, when all two-way contracts are now guaranteed for the rest of the season. The team brought in Dotson, a 6-foot-1 guard, in the wake of a hamstring strain Wright suffered in October.
Unseld said before the match that he wasn’t sure if the Wizards would fill the open two-way contract spot soon, but added, “We’re always looking to see who can cement the roster spot.”