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Orlando Magic Grades: Washington Wizards 95, Orlando Magic 91

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 25: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on January 25, 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 25: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on January 25, 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) /
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The Orlando Magic again suffered late-game frustrations as they could not fully overcome the 18-point deficit they dug in the first half.

142. 91. 38. Final. 95

When the Orlando Magic look back at their season, they may very well look back at the moments that slipped through their fingers. There have been plenty of those of late as the team has struggled to finish out close games after going through a spat of losing leads on the road.

They have struggled to put these behind them to get themselves back in the Playoff race. And another chance was before them.

And another chance slipped through their fingertips. This time quite literally.

Having rallied from an 18-point third-quarter deficit, the Magic found themselves in the lead with less than two minutes to go. Momentum was on their side and the Magic seemed to have the confidence to win this one.

It fell apart so quickly.

Bradley Beal beat Nikola Vucevic off the dribble for a one-handed jam. Nikola Vucevic then missed two free throws with less than a minute left. That set up Jeff Green‘s runner over Aaron Gordon to give the Wizards the lead. Aaron Gordon turned the ball over and the Magic were in full desperation mode trying to get those two points back.

The Magic got their chance, stealing the ball from Beal on a trap near midcourt. D.J. Augustin had a fast break with Nikola Vucevic trailing. Tomas Satoransky stopped him and he tried to wrap it around back to Nikola Vucevic.

Vucevic fumbled the ball out of bounds and the Magic’s chances for a win had dried up. The Orlando Magic again faltered down the stretch, their own mistakes coming back to bight them as they struggled even to get clean shots in a 95-91 loss to the Washington Wizards at Amway Center on Friday.

Orlando had plenty of other opportunities to win the game and their first-half struggles were as much to blame as their late-game difficulties.

The Magic were just 3 for 21 from beyond the arc in the first half. Steve Clifford claimed 17 of the 21 looks were open. He and the team seemed dumbfounded at the team’s horrible shooting despite decent execution.

The Wizards built an 18-point lead off that frustration. But the Magic would tighten up, get some opportune transition opportunities and fight their way back into the game. Orlando has proven time and time again they can compete with anyone when they play the right way. When they do that, they can be downright devastating.

But they also continue to show how far they have to go. And how much they struggle when the pressure ramps up on them.

B-. After the game, Nikola Vucevic put the blame for the loss squarely on himself. It was him who missed two free throws that would have given the Orlando Magic the lead with a minute to go and changed the face of the game. It was him who lost the ball out of bounds, even on a tough pass from <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC

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

B. <a href=. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON

TERRENCE ROSS. B. The Orlando Magic need a shotmaker. That much has become clearer and clearer as the season has gone and especially recently. They will still need more. But they would be in big trouble without <a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic

WASHINGTON WIZARDS. B. The Washington Wizards got themselves going behind Bradley Beal and his shooting ability. And they seemed to run as their 3-point shooting went. The team made 15 of 27 3-pointers, able to work the ball inside out and isolate Nikola Vucevic on perimeter players. They took advantage of that throughout the game. Jeff Green’s six 3-pointers killed the Magic.<p>But Washington was never super tied in together defensively. It was more about Orlando’s missed shots. And a comeback seemed inevitable if Orlando could get itself going. That eventually happened and the Wizards were caught on the back foot.</p><p>The difference between Washington and Orlando eventually became star power. Beal is playing extremely confidently right now and he was more than enough to get the Wizards to the finish line.</p>. 21-27. 9th East

Next. OMD Podcast: The trade deadline on the horizon. dark

The Orlando Magic next travel to Houston to take on the Houston Rockets. They 3.5 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final Playoff spot.