The Orlando Magic got their defense right too late to give themselves a chance to win. But the Philadelphia 76ers still had the plays to win.
The Orlando Magic hung around all game. Maybe undeservedly so with a defensive effort that bordered on lackadaisical all night long. The team tightened up in the fourth quarter and made the run to test the Philadelphia 76ers on the road.
It was a two-point game for what seemed like forever. The Magic could not get shots to fall to cut into the deficit. All the energy and momentum the team had built was still in their favor. But the door was open.
Orlando left the door open. The team had left the door open all game. Philadelphia was not about to let that opportunity slip.
That is when Jimmy Butler took over. He hit a step-back jumper over Nikola Vucevic to give the 76ers a three-point lead. He had already made his big play, slapping the ball away from Nikola Vucevic on defense with the team needing a basket to tie the game.
The Magic kept that door open down three points, allowing the 76ers to double their lead. Aaron Gordon appeared to be calling for Nikola Vucevic to switch onto Mike Scott and left Scott a bit too open. Butler found him and gave Scott a wide-open 3-pointer to make it a six-point lead.
Orlando squandered another opportunity. Nikola Vucevic intercepted an inbounds pass after an Evan Fournier layup to cut the lead to four but then threw the ball to D.J. Augustin before he was looking for it. The Sixers had the ball back and were able to ice the game 114-106 at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday.
The Magic got through a lackluster defensive effort throughout the first half and much of the third quarter. They buckled down and gave themselves a chance. But they ultimately could not get the stops or make the shots they needed to play. Individual play is still a big issue in these close games — whether they have Terrence Ross or not. Terrence Ross missed his first game of the season with a sore Achilles.
The 76ers were the better team throughout the night. The regret for the Magic was they once again waited too long to bring the right defensive effort and intensity. Their shooting did not keep up with the 76ers through a crazy shooting first half. And eventually, it took a desperate defensive effort even to have a chance.
The Orlando Magic are back in action Friday at the Amway Center against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Orlando Magic are now one-half game behind the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets for the final spot in the Playoffs. With five Orlando Magic wins or five Cleveland Cavaliers losses the Magic will be eliminated from receiving the top odds in the NBA Draft Lottery.