Nikola Vucevic will remain a vital part of the Orlando Magic's offense. (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
Orlando Magic Grades: Portland Trail Blazers 115, Orlando Magic 112
The Orlando Magic had their chances down the stretch but could not execute and saw turnovers doom their chances for a win.
Final
Orlando Magic
112 
Portland Trail Blazers
115 The Orlando Magic had themselves dialed in for another close game. They were on the chase and ready to overtake the Portland Trail Blazers, withstanding a 3-point barrage from Damian Lillard.
Evan Fournier helped key a 10-point lead that drew the Magic to within one point of the Blazers. And a defensive stop had Orlando in transition, Evan Fournier with two players running with him against two backpedaling defenders.
Fournier hesitated some as he weighed his options coming down the lane, seemingly unsure where to go. When Evan Fournier finally released the pass to his left to D.J. Augustin, Damian Lillard had already read his eyes. The steal was easy.
Lillard’s runner on the other end was not easy that gave Portland a little more room.
That turnover was one of four the Magic would commit in the final two minutes of a 115-112 loss to the Blazers at Moda Center on Wednesday. Orlando could not track Lillard at the 3-point line throughout the game, they struggled to corral rebounds and fouled often.
In one play it all came to a head as the Magic trailed by three points and saw Jonathan Isaac block Damian Lillard’s layup, only for Lillard to collect the rebound and Nikola Vucevic to knock him over going for the rebound.
Orlando’s late-game execution simply was not good enough. Outside of missing two wide-open 3-pointers, the Magic struggled even to get shots.
Of course, Orlando had control of the game for long stretches, building as much as an 11-point lead in the third quarter. That is when Lillard went off. He made 10 of 15 3-pointers, leaking out in transition where a somewhat disorganized Magic team struggled to find him. When Lillard gets going, it is hard to stop him. And his third-quarter shooting helped charge a 40-point effort that put Portland in control.
But Orlando seemed equally up to the task to answer. The team tightened up its defense and got stops to climb slowly back in the game. A late 10-0 run made it a game down the stretch. The Magic continue to show their willingness to fight for a full 48 minutes.
They just have to find a way to play effectively for the whole game. And down the stretch Wednesday night, they needed a little calmer execution.
Evan Fournier is not himself right now. He is missing shots the Orlando Magic expect and know he can make and his shooting percentage has plummeted this year. Orlando needs Fournier on the ball looking to score. That is when he and the team are at their best. 
In one respect, Fournier was fine. He finished the game with 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting. He hit several key shots in the fourth quarter that helped give Orlando a fighting chance to win the game during a 10-0 run.
But he also gave that opportunity away. He was really sloppy at the end of the game, jumping before passing and getting caught in his own indecision. Even though he was making shots, it looked like he was forcing play. And his defense left something to be desired as he struggled coming around screens on several occasions while chasing C.J. McCollum.
" > EVAN FOURNIER
G/F, Orlando MagicC+
Evan Fournier is not himself right now. He is missing shots the Orlando Magic expect and know he can make and his shooting percentage has plummeted this year. Orlando needs Fournier on the ball looking to score. That is when he and the team are at their best.
In one respect, Fournier was fine. He finished the game with 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting. He hit several key shots in the fourth quarter that helped give Orlando a fighting chance to win the game during a 10-0 run.
But he also gave that opportunity away. He was really sloppy at the end of the game, jumping before passing and getting caught in his own indecision. Even though he was making shots, it looked like he was forcing play. And his defense left something to be desired as he struggled coming around screens on several occasions while chasing C.J. McCollum.
Nikola Vucevic continued to put up numbers and be the guy the Orlando Magic turned to for instant offense throughout the game. His 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists are starting to feel commonplace. He just produces a steady drumbeat of production for the team. 
More importantly, Vucevic’s defense continues to look far improved. Even from the Orlando Magic’s last game against the Portland Trail Blazers, he was stepping up and willing to meet the ball handler rather than dropping and catching him. It made Damian Lillard’s drives that much more difficult. It forced Portland to move him off the ball to get him going (that worked).
Vucevic still struggled with rebounding. Rather, it was on the guards for getting back to help out on the glass. But Vucevic should shoulder some responsibility for the offensive rebounds Orlando gave up.
" > NIKOLA VUCEVIC
C, Orlando MagicB+
Nikola Vucevic continued to put up numbers and be the guy the Orlando Magic turned to for instant offense throughout the game. His 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists are starting to feel commonplace. He just produces a steady drumbeat of production for the team.
More importantly, Vucevic’s defense continues to look far improved. Even from the Orlando Magic’s last game against the Portland Trail Blazers, he was stepping up and willing to meet the ball handler rather than dropping and catching him. It made Damian Lillard’s drives that much more difficult. It forced Portland to move him off the ball to get him going (that worked).
Vucevic still struggled with rebounding. Rather, it was on the guards for getting back to help out on the glass. But Vucevic should shoulder some responsibility for the offensive rebounds Orlando gave up.
Jonathan Isaac had his struggles in the Orlando Magic’s loss to the Golden State Warriors after getting pressed into duty with Aaron Gordon‘s injury. He had a big opportunity in this one starting in Aaron Gordon’s place. After some early struggles, he took advantage fully. 
Isaac finished with 16 points and seven rebounds on 5-for-9 shooting. He had a solid shooting performance and fit in well with that starting group. At least once the team got going. Without a big matchup, Isaac was able to make a bigger impact defensively.
Isaac did get caught a few times jumping for those blocks though. He was a bit too eager to contest shots and got caught with ball fakes on more than one occasion. But it was an overall strong effort from him.
" > JONATHAN ISAAC
F, Orlando MagicB
Jonathan Isaac had his struggles in the Orlando Magic’s loss to the Golden State Warriors after getting pressed into duty with Aaron Gordon‘s injury. He had a big opportunity in this one starting in Aaron Gordon’s place. After some early struggles, he took advantage fully.
Isaac finished with 16 points and seven rebounds on 5-for-9 shooting. He had a solid shooting performance and fit in well with that starting group. At least once the team got going. Without a big matchup, Isaac was able to make a bigger impact defensively.
Isaac did get caught a few times jumping for those blocks though. He was a bit too eager to contest shots and got caught with ball fakes on more than one occasion. But it was an overall strong effort from him.
Jarell Martin into meaningful minutes for the first time in quite some time. That was a big ask for the big man. But Jarrel Martin played a key role for the Magic in turning the game around and giving the Magic a chance to win. 
Martin scored eight points quickly at the end of the first quarter, including two 3-pointers that helped the Magic pull to within three points at the end of the quarter. Martin was active around the basket and kept the ball moving.
He finished with 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting at the end. His output in the first half, like the rest of the bench, was vital to building the lead. Just like his struggles in the second half helped give it all back and allow Portland to build a lead.
" > JARELL MARTIN
PF, Orlando MagicB+
With Jonathan Isaac in the starting lineup and Aaron Gordon out, that moved Jarell Martin into meaningful minutes for the first time in quite some time. That was a big ask for the big man. But Jarrel Martin played a key role for the Magic in turning the game around and giving the Magic a chance to win.
Martin scored eight points quickly at the end of the first quarter, including two 3-pointers that helped the Magic pull to within three points at the end of the quarter. Martin was active around the basket and kept the ball moving.
He finished with 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting at the end. His output in the first half, like the rest of the bench, was vital to building the lead. Just like his struggles in the second half helped give it all back and allow Portland to build a lead.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
13-8, 5th WestB+
The Portland Trail Blazers can score. That much has always been clear. Their defense has always been the part that has been the source of their greatest inconsistency over the years. This game was no different on that front. The Blazers gave up 52 percent shooting to the Magic.
But the margin for error is a lot smaller when Damian Lillard can go off at any point. The Blazers adjusted and found him at every turn when the Magic went through their typical offensive lulls. That is how you build a 40-point quarter and flip a game on its head.
The Blazers dominated the offensive glass and that helped cover up mistakes. That is part of what Portland does to build its success. The Blazers locked down defensively when they needed to. It was hardly a clean game for them. But they got the job done even with some shaky moments at the end.
The Orlando Magic wrap up their West Coast road trip against the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
