Orlando Magic Grades: Phoenix Suns 102, Orlando Magic 84
The Orlando Magic came out more than flat. They were downright awful and it started with some key players playing their absolute worst in a loss to the Suns
The Orlando Magic seemed to fall into a rabbit hole early and only dig themselves deeper as the Phoenix Suns pushed and prodded the Magic throughout the game. That is not how things are supposed to go when facing a team 30 games under .500. Orlando needs every win it can get.
Instead the Magic came out lethargic on defense and quickly fell apart again on offense. And when they fell, they fell hard in this game.
The Magic missed their first 12 shots of the second half and fell behind by 17 points, never really recovering. The Suns were taking the ball right out of their hands and more or less beating them up physically. Orlando simply failed to respond.
It was a frustrating evening for the Magic in every way. Shots would not fall — 34.7 percent — and they were trying to force everything as they fell deeper and deeper into the hole.
And the Magic never dug themselves out. Never had a chance. Not with their lazy defensive effort and an offense that just could not get itself moving in any positive way.