The Orlando Magic ended their six-game home losing streak in dominant fashion on Monday night, securing a 118-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers and extending the Lakers’ recent struggles to three consecutive losses.

  

34-18 in the third quarter—a pattern that has plagued them throughout the season.

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Magic Shine as Lakers Struggle to Keep Up

  

Franz Wagner led the way for Orlando with an outstanding 32 points and nine assists, while Paolo Banchero delivered an impressive 30 points and seven rebounds to help seal the victory.

  

For the Lakers, Luka Dončić put up a strong effort with 32 points, while LeBron James contributed 24 points and eight assists. However, their individual efforts were not enough to overcome their team’s continued struggles.

  

Following the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick admitted his team is facing serious challenges.

  

“We look tired,” Redick said. “We weren’t able to sustain the level of intensity that we started the game with.”

  

Lakers’ Losing Streak Raises Playoff Concerns

  

With this latest loss, the Lakers have now dropped seven of their last ten games. Although they still hold the fourth spot in the Western Conference, their position is becoming increasingly fragile, as they sit only three games ahead of the seventh-seeded LA Clippers, who currently occupy the first play-in tournament slot.

  

Lakers star Luka Dončić acknowledged the team’s struggles, admitting that complacency has been an issue.

  

“I think we just got a little bit satisfied,” Dončić said. “We can’t afford that right now.”

  

Recurring Issues for the Lakers

  

This loss comes just two days after the Lakers suffered a crushing 146-115 defeat to the Chicago Bulls, in which they were similarly dominated in the third quarter, getting outscored 39-27.

  

Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith pointed out that offensive struggles are affecting the team’s defensive performance, while LeBron James acknowledged that the squad is “going through it a little bit.”

  

A Crucial Stretch Ahead

  

With just 11 regular-season games left, seven of which are on the road, the Lakers must quickly rediscover their winning form to avoid slipping into the play-in tournament.

  

“I think me and Bron, we should be the guys to do that,” Dončić stated, taking responsibility for the team’s performance.

  

“That’s on me. Obviously, I’ve got to do better, I’ve got to talk more.”

  

Now, the question remains: Can the Lakers turn things around before it’s too late?

  

Los Angeles will begin a challenging four-game road trip on Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers, followed by a rematch with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday—both crucial games that could determine whether they remain in the top six or slide into the play-in tournament battle.