The Orlando Magic failed to execute down the stretch offensively, throwing away another solid defensive effort and a chance for a big road win.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
| Magic | 27 | 17 | 30 | 15 | 89 |
| Bucks | 20 | 29 | 20 | 24 | 93 |
The Orlando Magic’s defense gave them every opportunity to win the game. This is the way Frank Vogel envisioned things going this season. With the team’s offensive shortcomings, defense was going to have to anchor the team and give it every opportunity to win each night.
Some nights, it would not be enough. Some nights, the offense would let the team down with poor execution, scoring droughts and, maybe, turnovers.
The Magic put themselves in position to win once again. To this point in the season, Orlando has largely won these close games. The Bucks though stymied and frustrated the Magic throughout the fourth quarter.
Matthew Dellavedova hit the go-ahead 3-pointer that put the Bucks ahead for good. The Magic never could make up the deficit fully. Down three with two minutes to go, the Magic seemed to rush through their offense and hoist ill-advised threes, including a contested one from Elfrid Payton early in the shot clock.
Jabari Parker buried the Magic with a fadeaway 3 where he somehow drew a foul on Ibaka after good defense. He made just one of the three free throws, but it gave the Bucks a four-point lead.
The Magic delivered one last turnover on a night where they struggled to protect the ball all evening — 24 turnovers in all — and the Bucks held on for the 93-89 win at BMO Harris Bradley Center on Monday.
Orlando can rightfully look at this game with a tinge of disappointment. There was poor execution throughout the fourth quarter, where they lost a five-point lead. There were 19 turnovers in the first half, giving up a 14-point lead the Magic took right from the start of the game.
None of that mattered in the end. The Bucks were able to force turnovers and get out in transition to stress the Magic defense. Orlando was stout in the half court throughout the game.
But with an offense that was struggling to score in the fourth quarter, the Magic got a taste of their own medicine and could not find their way to a win.