NBA: Wendell Carter Jr. stabs the Lakers at the buzzer, Orlando lands a heavy blow in LA

6.7 seconds left. One possession. One offensive rebound. One hook shot.

Wendell Carter Jr. picked his moment. A hook in the paint. 110-109 Orlando Magic. The Crypto.com Arena went silent.

LeBron had the final shot. A hurried, off-balance three. It fell short. Game over.

The Lakers fold again.

Carter pounces, Banchero on fire

Wendell Carter Jr. did more than sink the winner. 20 points, 12 boards, constant work in the paint. And that second offensive rebound on the last possession — the play that flipped everything.

But the engine tonight was Paolo Banchero. 36 points. Isolation scoring, sharp attacks, ice in the clutch.

Paolo Banchero 36 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST, 12/22 FG, 2/6 3FG, 10/11 FT, 67.1% TS vs Lakers https://t.co/XqvNXPENxu pic.twitter.com/T9OSN6bj80

— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) February 25, 2026

Desmond Bane added 22, including a go-ahead three with 34 seconds left before the Lakers answered in a flash.

Orlando keeps climbing. Six wins in their last eight. Half a game off sixth in the East.

Lakers still wilt in the clutch

Luka Dončić handed out 15 assists to go with 22 points. He found LeBron under the rim for a dunk that put LA back ahead with seconds to go.

LeBron finished with 21. Deandre Ayton matched him. Austin Reaves scored 18, all in the second half.

But again, the Lakers couldn’t close. Too many turnovers. Too cold from deep. And they still struggle to beat bona fide playoff teams.

Los Angeles sits 4-4 since the All-Star break and drops to sixth in the West.

Magic on the rise

Orlando had to come back from a double-digit hole early. They were sloppy from three, but made up for it with intensity and second-chance opportunities.

Jalen Suggs was out again with a sore back. So what. The group effort held up.

Fourth straight win over the Lakers. That stat is starting to bite.

Next up: Orlando at Houston. Lakers at Phoenix.

But Tuesday night in LA, the last picture is clear. Wendell Carter Jr. rises, cocks the hook and plants the dagger with 6.7 seconds on the clock.

Sometimes a game comes down to one rebound.

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