The Orlando Magic let one slip through their fingers as the Sacramento Kings stole a victory behind the hot shooting of Garrett Temple.
The Orlando Magic had lost the lead they had nurtured almost the entire game. Garrett Temple was raining shots on them, burying a dagger over Elfrid Payton to give the Sacramento Kings a four-point lead.
Orlando needed an answer. From anyone. Just find a way to get a basket.
They would turn to Aaron Gordon on this instance, driving to the basket only to get met by Willie Cauley-Stein for a block. The Magic would get a contested three on their next possession. . . no good and ball game.
That was the way things were throughout the fourth quarter. Temple hits a big shot, the Magic unable to answer. Good looks or bad looks it did not matter.
Orlando was unable to put Sacramento away in what was a sloppy performance that featured 17 turnovers including seven from Aaron Gordon. The Kings eventually pulled away behind Temple’s 19 fourth-quarter points (34 overall) for a 105-99 win at the Amway Center, breaking their eight-game losing streak.
The Magic’s solid play from the last four games came only in flashes. It was hardly enough to pull away. The Magic led by as much as 11 and seemed like they could coast to a victory. But each time Sacramento was able to draw itself closer and make it a game.
Then the fourth quarter came.
Orlando scored only 17 points and made just 6 of 20 shots. The team missed on seven of its eight 3-point attempts in the quarter. The team slowly saw its lead dissipate and saw the King stake advantage and take the lead.
When they finally did, Orlando seemed to be forcing its offense, trying to create one-on-one plays for Aaron Gordon or Elfrid Payton or Evan Fournier. That is not how the Magic can build a successful offense. Not with their players and their roster.
After the game, coach Frank Vogel could only offer his disappointment and frustration. The team had let momentum slip by them. Instead of building off of strong wins, they gave into their own hype. What little of it they could have.
At the end, that was not enough.
The Orlando Magic go back on the road next to take on freshly minted All-Star Victor Oladipo and the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.