The Orlando Magic made an improbable late comeback, capped off with Evan Fournier‘s buzzer-beating shot to give the team its first win streak.
The Orlando Magic trailed the Cleveland Cavaliers by five points with 42.2 seconds left. It felt like the team had surrendered another opportunity at a good win, squandering an 11-point halftime lead with a frustrating 12-point quarter.
Evan Fournier missed an open 3-pointer on the next possession all but sealing the Magic’s fate.
Or so it would seem.
Aaron Gordon picked up the offensive rebound and hit a tough fadeaway jumper to keep some hope alive with 23.8 seconds left.
Down three, all the Cavaliers had to do was protect the ball and make free throws.
But Cedi Osman did not get that memo. Instead of waiting for the Magic to foul he tried passing to a cutting Jordan Clarkson. D.J. Augustin got the steal and drew a foul. A three-point lead became one.
Inbounding the ball to Kyle Korver, Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross trapped him and forced a steal. The Magic had the ball and Fournier drew a foul with the chance to take a one-point lead.
Fournier split the free throws but would get a second chance. Nikola Vucevic blocked George Hill‘s layup attempt and the Magic got the ball out of bounds with one second left.
Coach Steve Clifford drew up a play for Evan Fournier to come off a curl screen. He pump-faked and sidestepped Osman flying by him. He drained the shot and gave the Magic an improbable 102-100 win over the Cavaliers at Amway Center.
The crazed finish was the kind of heartbreak the Magic are used to being on the wrong end of. Orlando had to fight back after trailing by nine points entering the fourth quarter. That was thanks to a 4-for-22 performance in a 12-point third quarter. That frittered away another energetic start where the team moved and shared the ball extremely effectively.
Orlando still has to find a way to keep its offense moving and keep its defense engaged even as frustrations over missed shots mount. But the Magic are happy to learn those lessons while winning.
If the key goal right now is to establish a “competitive spirit” and “fight,” this game certainly had that. Orlando never gave up on the game even with the team’s struggles for good stretches of it. Far from perfect, but enough to get the W. And that is all that matters.
The Orlando Magic are next in action Wednesday when they host the Detroit Pistons.