Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic Grades: Brooklyn Nets 117, Orlando Magic 115

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 18: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a three point basket at the end of the game against the Orlando Magic on January 18, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 18: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a three point basket at the end of the game against the Orlando Magic on January 18, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Orlando Magic lost another 20-point lead and saw a confident Brooklyn Nets team take them down on their home floor, piercing their Playoff hopes.

38. Final. 117. 147. 115

Comebacks do not happen in slow motion. The moments that could have been that would have prevented them do.

There is the turnaround jumper from Nikola Vucevic, a shot he would normally make that falls no good. Evan Fournier driving down the baseline to take a floater that falls no good.

And then there are the defensive lapses that haunt and sting. That replay over and over again.

With less than a minute to play coming out of a timeout, Spencer Dinwiddie dove toward the corner and hit a 3-pointer as D.J. Augustin tried desperately to catch up. He drew the foul, made the shot and gave the Brooklyn Nets their first lead of the game.

D’Angelo Russell stepped back for a 3-pointer that gave the Nets a three-point lead. Terrence Ross matched it, drawing a foul on a three, but missed the second of his three free throws and left it a one-point game.

Down by two points and time winding down, Evan Fournier broke through the Brooklyn Nets’ zone defense but left the game-tying runner short and the Nets escaped with a 117-115 win over the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on Friday.

This felt like a script the Magic have seen plenty of times before.

Orlando was nearly flawless through the first half, building as much as a 21-point lead thanks to scrappy defense and superb ball movement. They seemed to have an answer for every foray the Nets tried to make on the lead.

But Orlando’s offense was never sustainable. The Magic ended up shooting 50.0 percent for the game and 10 for 26 from beyond the arc. But they made only 8 of 21 shots in the fourth quarter and had four turnovers in the final period.

Those kinds of mistakes will cost any team in what turned into a tough battle. Orlando opened the quarter with a nine-point lead and saw it slowly dwindle away as the Nets attacked the basket and found ways to score.

Their potent 3-point attack put pressure on the Magic’s perimeter defense and eventually cracked it. Brooklyn made 19 of its 46 3-pointers. Maybe Orlando wanted to concede a ton of contested 3-pointers and Brooklyn made them. But the Nets got into a rhythm and never lost confidence, even down big.

Orlando seemed to get tight as the game got closer. The Magic held on as long as they could but those late-game mistakes and defensive lapses through the second half ultimately cost them.

Orlando knows it has a path to winning. It is a very narrow one. The Magic walked that fine line for most of this game. But could not keep their balance in the end.

A-. <a href=. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON

Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC. B-. <a href=. C

C-. Evan Fournier had the tough defensive assignment on D’Angelo Russell for most of the night. Like <a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER

A+. <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. MOHAMED BAMBA

B+. The Brooklyn Nets are a resilient bunch. That has been something Kenny Atkinson has instilled into this group for several years as they struggled at the bottom of the standings. What they are doing now and the confidence they are playing with is no mistake. This team never dies — just ask the Houston Rockets from Wednesday.<p>The Nets never seemed panicked when they went down by 21 points. They kept grinding away waiting for the spurt they know they are capable of. With a team full of shooters and the confidence to shoot, they seem comfortable in their identity that they can feast or famine. And they trust that the feast will come.</p><p>So it was no surprise to them when D’Angelo Russell drained shots to score 40 points on eight 3-point makes. Nor was it a surprise to see Spencer Dinwiddie score 20. Everyone played their role and they got the ball rolling in the fourth quarter to beat a staggered Magic team. The Nets clearly embrace and trust their identity. There may not be a ton of daylight between these two teams, but it is clear why one is sixth in the East and the other is clinging to Playoff hopes.</p>. 24-23. 6th East. BROOKLYN NETS

Next. Deflections a key to Orlando Magic's activity. dark

The Orlando Magic return to action at the Amway Center on Saturday night to take on the Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks. The Magic are 2.5 games out of the final Playoff spot.