Orlando Magic Grades: New Orleans Pelicans 118, Orlando Magic 98

The Orlando Magic finished their road trip with a thud. They put in a lifeless effort, closing out with a blowout loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Orlando Magic gave up an astonishing 29 points in the paint in the first half of Wednesday’s 118-98 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.

There is no excuse for that. Not the fatigue of a six-game, 11-day road trip. Not an opponent that plays at a high pace. There is no excuse.

The only reason for being so lackadaisical in the paint is a team that is disconnected from each other and not putting in the effort for each other on the defensive end. New Orleans did whatever it wanted in making 49.5 percent of its shots and a 15 of 36 3-pointers.

The Pelicans had 28 assists on 46 field goal makes. Everything was very easy for the Pelicans. They had their offense working early and quickly outpaced the Magic when they put their second unit in.

New Orleans did not completely run away with things immediately. Orlando had a bit of fight and some response. The Magic cut a 16-point lead to eight midway through the third quarter and seemed to have some momentum.

Then some poor shot selection and execution betrayed the best defense the Magic played all night. Or at least the only time the Pelicans missed shots all evening.

That opportunity quickly passed and the Pelicans began expanding their lead back out, leading by as much as 28 in the fourth quarter. The Magic had no more fight left in them. No efficiency or composure.

The Magic had no more fight left in them. No efficiency or composure. No pride on the defensive end or in the scoreboard with their names attached to it.

The team once again said all the right things. Frank Vogel said the team needs to stick together and find a way out of this rut. This has been a broken record for several weeks now. As the Magic seem unable to gain traction and are slipping out of the Playoff picture.

The road does not get easier for them, even after completing this road trip — 1-5 at that. Orlando returns home with more questions for itself than ever before. And an identity of complacency and frustration that needs to change.