Orlando Magic Grades: Atlanta Hawks 103, Orlando Magic 100
The Orlando Magic made some key errors throughout the game but the late mistakes from Victor Oladipo clearly cost the team a win.
38. 103. 125. Final. 100
Scott Skiles had praised Victor Oladipo as one of the best defenders in the NBA just the day before. He asked the league to find him someone playing better defense than Oladipo.
Those words came back to bite him and the Magic on Sunday night. Oladipo helped too far off Kyle Korver with the game tied at 100 in a situation Skiles said the team instructed him not to leave Korver. That gave Korver an open 3-pointer and what turned into the game-winning 3-pointer.
Oladipo put the entire blame for the loss on himself. It was his mistake — that play, plus a turnover on the ensuing possession trying to find Tobias Harris on the opposite wing for three — that cost the Magic in the short run. But it was the Magic’s defensive woes throughout the game that cost them.
Atlanta shot 50 percent from the floor and from beyond the arc as Orlando had to claw their way back into the game with a 16-0 third-quarter run and rely on offensive execution to win.
F. <p>Victor Oladipo came out and put the blame on himself for the defensive plays at the end. It was some of the biggest mistakes he has made on that end all season. On at least three occasions, including that final defensive possession, Oladipo overhelped off of Korver allowing him ample space to make a 3-pointer.</p><p>Korver finished with 19 points, all in the second half. He added five assists.</p><p>Oladipo struggled offensively too. He had four points on 2-for-11 shooting. He was able to get into the lane and give himself opportunities, but finished with the wrong hand or struggled to score in those opportunities. He struggled to get separation and get his shot to go down.</p>. G. Orlando Magic. VICTOR OLADIPO
B+. <p>The Magic did have a bright spot for the most part on the offensive end in <strong><a href=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC
EVAN FOURNIER. B. <p>It was good to see <strong><a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic
PG. Orlando Magic. ELFRID PAYTON. C+. <p><strong><a href=
<p>The Atlanta Hawks did a lot of things well for the most part Sunday night. The shooting percentages — 50 percent from the floor, 50 percent from beyond the arc and 70 percent from the foul line — show a team that was executing well offensively and getting what they wanted. The Hawks moved the ball like everyone knows they are capable of doing.</p><p>They were far from flawless. The Magic came back on a 16-0 run in the third quarter and they were much better offensively from that point on. Atlanta tried to be physical defensively and it worked in the first half, but failed in the second. The Magic had 14 of their 24 free throw attempts in the third quarter.</p><p>Atlanta though won the game in the end. The team executed better and hit shots at the key time. The Magic missed some open shots throughout the game and did not have the complete answers throughout the game.</p>. 17-12. 6th East. ATLANTA HAWKS. B