WASHINGTON (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 28 points and 11 rebounds as the Orlando Magic beat the Washington Wizards 125-94 on Saturday night.
Banchero shot 9 for 15 from the field and went 3 of 6 from 3-point range in 26 minutes for his fourth double-double.
Wendell Carder Jr. added 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Franz Wagner scored 25 points as the Magic won consecutive games after an early season four-game skid.
Orlando outrebounded Washington 53-40 — a margin that narrowed late — and held an opponent under 100 points for the first time this season. The Magic are 2-2 on their five-game trip and 3-4 overall.
Keyshawn George scored 17 points and CJ McCollum added 13 as the Wizards lost their fourth straight overall and third straight at home. Washington has dropped 11 consecutive games against the Magic.
The Wizards shot 39.8% (39 of 98) from the floor in their lowest-scoring game of the new season.
After a first quarter of seven ties and four lead changes, Orlando outscored Washington 43-21 in the second and held a 75-56 lead at halftime.
Banchero hit 5 of 7 shots and scored 15 points, and Wagner added 11 points as the Magic shot 60.9% from the floor in the period.
Orlando built its lead to 30 points in the third quarter, allowing Magic coach Jamahl Mosley to lean mostly on his bench down the stretch.
Magic: At Atlanta on Monday
Wizards: At New York Knicks on Sunday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) guards Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Wizards guard CJ McCollum (3) attempts a shot against Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze, left, blocks the shot of Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong officials on Wednesday proposed expanding oversight of building maintenance projects and stronger fire safety steps after a blaze in November killed at least 161 people and displaced thousands.
The blaze that spread across seven towers in an apartment complex raised questions about corruption, negligence and government oversight in the city's building maintenance projects, piling pressure on Hong Kong leader John Lee’s administration and Beijing’s “patriots-only” governance system for the city.
In the newly elected legislature's first meeting, Lee said the fire exposed the need for reform and pledged that the investigation by law enforcement agencies and a judge-led independent committee would be thorough.
“We will fairly pursue accountability and take disciplinary action based on facts against anyone who should bear responsibility, regardless of whether they are from within or outside the government, or whether they are junior or senior staff,” Lee said.
To combat bid-rigging, Lee's administration proposed that the Urban Renewal Authority play a greater role in helping homeowners choose contractors for building maintenance projects.
Officials planned to set up a preselected list of consultants and contractors based on official background checks and past reviews from homeowners. The authority would facilitate homeowners in tendering and bid evaluation more.
The government also suggested requiring big renovation projects to hire a third-party professional to supervise the work, necessitating fire department's approval before shutting down major fire safety installations, and banning smoking on any construction site.
Proposals for law changes linked to the smoking ban were expected to be submitted for the legislature's review within the next few weeks, while officials were still discussing some of the other suggestions with the Urban Renewal Authority.
Authorities have pointed to substandard netting and foam boards installed during renovations at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex as factors that contributed to the fire in November. They also said some fire alarms did not work in tests.
Political analysts and observers worried the tragedy could be the “tip of an iceberg" in Hong Kong, a city whose skyline is built on high-rise buildings. Suspicions of bid-rigging and use of hazardous construction materials in renovation projects across other housing estates have left many fearing the disaster could be repeated.
A man walks past the burnt buildings after a deadly fire that started Wednesday at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong's New Territories, Friday, Nov. 28 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
FILE - Smoke rises after a fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong's New Territories, Nov. 26 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei, File)
