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Orlando Magic Grades: Atlanta Hawks 117, Orlando Magic 110

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 9: Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic on December 9, 2017 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 9: Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic on December 9, 2017 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The undermanned Orlando Magic pulled together and got some strong performances to give themselves a shot. But they collapsed at the end.

The Orlando Magic had done what everyone was unsure they could do — give themselves a chance to win without essentially three starters and one of their most important bench players. Nikola Vucevic was leading a skeleton crew on the road on the second night of a back to back and the team was just hoping to show the kind of effort to give them a chance.

They had their chance. And if the Magic wanted to stay afloat, they needed to deliver when that chance came. No one cares about their injuries. Nor will the schedule care about the circumstances. A loss counts all the same.

Leading the Atlanta Hawks 110-108, the Magic looked prepared to hold on and steal a win on the road. Even when Dennis Schroder drew a foul on Elfrid Payton driving to the basket to tie the game, the Magic had the best player on the floor and all the momentum to secure the victory.

Disaster struck quickly though. Jonathon Simmons drove right and tried to turn the corner. Seeing the double team he threw it back up top over his head to Nikola Vucevic. Kent Bazemore was waiting there.

Bazemore darted into the passing lane, much like Elfrid Payton did in overtime in Wednesday’s victory for the Magic, and dunked it to give the Hawks a two-point lead. The Magic came back and worked the ball to the corner to get Shelvin Mack a 3-pointer. But Taurean Prince closed fast and blocked the shot to secure the victory.

The Hawks this time were the ones to escape with a 117-110 victory over the Magic at Philips Arena. A valiant effort, including a triple-double from Nikola Vucevic and a career-high from Jonathon Simmons.

Orlando was left wondering what if and realizing that with so many players out with an injury, they will need a full 48-minute effort to survive and score victories.

A. What didn’t Nikola Vucevic do for the Orlando Magic? Sure, there might be some quibbles about his defense — that is easy enough to nitpick. But that is not necessarily what the Magic needed. They were missing a lot of offense and had to rely heavily on Vucevic to carry the load. And against the Atlanta Hawks, he was more than willing to.<p>Vucevic recorded his first career triple-double, posting 31 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. He made 13 of his 18 shots. Vucevic terrorized the interior defenders for the Hawks, taking out <a rel=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC

B+. Jonathon Simmons is going to get his chance now. And in many ways, he was the perfect complement to Nikola Vucevic. Simmons was able to get downhill and get to the basket. He played the way the Magic need him to play. He was active and trying to score.<p>Simmons finished with a career-high 29 points, adding seven rebounds and five assists. He hit 13 of his 24 shots. He was strong on the ball and the Magic turned to him to run the offense. He and Vucevic worked in tandem for much of the game.</p><p>But this is clearly not the role Simmons will experience his most success. He was not doing anything that was much different from when he struggled before. He just made shots. His playmaking was better than it normally has been. But the turnover at the end stands out. And Simmons failed to get to the foul line despite all his drives.</p><p>A strong game for sure. But one still full of mistakes.</p>. G/F. Orlando Magic. JONATHON SIMMONS

PG. Orlando Magic. SHELVIN MACK. A+. <a href=

C+. <a rel=. F. Orlando Magic. MARIO HEZONJA

B-. The Atlanta Hawks certainly had some form of revenge on their minds after they let Wednesday’s game slip away. The team came out firing and took an early lead. But they also let the Orlando Magic hang around far longer than they should have. Despite shooting so well, Atlanta never pulled away. And the Magic were the underdogs who needed their opponents to give them a chance.<p>Atlanta never adjusted to Nikola Vucevic. He kept getting the exact shots he wanted in the post or in the midrange. Some of that is the Hawks simply did not have the horses to defend Vucevic effectively. Their big rotation is noticeably short.</p><p>But the Hawks made the plays at the end. Their length and defensive aggression paid off. Their gambles worked. Kent Bazemore made the plays the Hawks needed to steal the victory back in the end. That counts for something. Atlanta is not a team that is going to win a lot, and so they all matter.</p>. 6-19. 14th East. ATLANTA HAWKS

The Orlando Magic get a few days off before they take on the LA Clippers at the Amway Center on Wednesday.