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Orlando Magic Grades: Chicago Bulls 90, Orlando Magic 80

By Philip Rossman-Reich

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 21: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic looses control of the ball between Chandler Hutchison #15 and Shaquille Harrison #3 of the Chicago Bulls at United Center on December 21, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Magic 90-80. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 21: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic looses control of the ball between Chandler Hutchison #15 and Shaquille Harrison #3 of the Chicago Bulls at United Center on December 21, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Magic 90-80. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic offense failed to travel to the Windy City and not even a strong defensive effort could overcome the Chicago Bulls’ strong night.

24. Final. 80. 38. 90

Every center in the NBA gets got once in their career. If they are doing their job right trying to protect the lane or basket, they will slide over too late and see a towering figure soaring over them. They take the primal scream and the highlights that come.

What they have to do in response is to find a way to gut it out on the other end and not let that moment become a momentum changer on either end.

Then again a team needs momentum to begin with and so a play like that can have double importance.

Lauri Markkanen got Nikola Vucevic good. Off a scramble the ball squirted away from the Orlando Magic and Jonathan Isaac overplayed trying to close out on the Finnish big man. Lauri Markkanen blew past Jonathan Isaac and saw the open lane. Nikola Vucevic was too late and Lauri Markkanen rose above him, screaming at Vucevic to draw a technical foul.

That point was inconsequential. The statement was made.

Orlando was a step slow and out of rhythm. The Orlando Magic’s defense locked down the Chicago Bulls and gave themselves every chance to win. But Markkanen kept getting free on pick and rolls and rolls to the basket.

He was the one fixture in a game that featured almost no offense. His 32 points helped Chicago break free in the second quarter and pull away, making a 10-point deficit feel like 20.

Orlando made a late rally to try to cut into the deficit and cut the lead to three. But there was Lauri Markkanen again with a late bucket or a dish to Wendell Carter to close the Magic out. There was no verve or urgency from Orlando and the team settled for jumpers in a 90-80 loss to Chicago at United Center on Friday.

The Magic shot a season-low 32.6 percent from the floor and totaled 20 assists on 28 field goal makes. That shows how little ball movement the team had. It should also show how the Magic were unable to attack the paint, scoring only 24 points in the paint for the game. Orlando settled for jumpers and struggled once again to break down Chicago’s trapping and switching defense.

There was no breaking the lines and the Magic’s margin for error was too tiny for even a strong defensive effort to withstand. This is a common theme as the Magic continue to struggle to score. And against the worst offensive team in the league, Orlando never really got itself going on that end.

<a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER. B+

D. Jonathan Isaac has looked more rookie than a second-year player in several instances. Maybe that is fair. But the flaws that he hid last year from simply not playing much — and low expectations when he did — are starting to become more apparent. He will still have a lot of work to do. But the one thing Isaac has to provide now is his defense.<p>Things started out well for Isaac as he got a few deflections and bottled up the Chicago Bulls’ early attack. He looked like he was in for a strong game for the team. But then he picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and his aggression and physicality completely disappeared. He seemed a bit hesitant and Markkanen took advantage.</p><p>Markkanen was Isaac’s assignment for most of the night. And so Isaac deserves at least some of the responsibility for his big game. He was not dialed into the gameplan and that hurt the Magic in the end. Especially in a game where the team’s margin for error was so small.</p>. F. Orlando Magic. JONATHAN ISAAC

C+. <a href=. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON

TERRENCE ROSS. F. <a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic

8-25. 14th East. CHICAGO BULLS. A-. The Chicago Bulls made a ton of mistakes. This was the kind of team and the kind of game where even a team like the Orlando Magic could struggle and still have a chance to win. But the one thing the Bulls did not do is let up on their effort or deviate from their gameplan.<p>Chicago blitzed and switched Orlando into submission, stymying any attempts to break the interior defense down. The Magic seemed a bit confused with how to attack this defense. And Chicago used that to its advantage.</p><p>The Bulls struggled themselves offensively. They scored just 90 points after all and shot 44.0 percent themselves. Their 5-for-17 shooting from beyond the arc was all part of the struggles. But Lauri Markkanen came to play. And Orlando lost him enough times to give Chicago the room it needed.</p>

Nikola Vucevic's return will be key to unlocking Aaron Gordon. dark. Next

The Orlando Magic return home to begin a four-game homestand Sunday as they battle the Miami Heat in a critical Eastern Conference battle.