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Orlando Magic Grades: Memphis Grizzlies 105, Orlando Magic 97

By Philip Rossman-Reich

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 10: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on March 10, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 10: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on March 10, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic charged back to have a chance at a win. But a late-game collapse filled the team with frustration and another defeat.

211. Final. 97. 38. 105

Frustration had already boiled over for the Orlando Magic.

It might have been from the 4-for-22 shooting start or the lax defensive focus. It might have been from calls that may or may not have gone their way throughout the game. It might have been from poor execution. The Magic seemed like they wanted someone to blame.

And it boiled over. At the wrong time. And at the wrong moment in the midst of a Playoff push when a team needs poise and composure more than anything else.

Evan Fournier had already gotten ejected after a short (and honestly inconsequential outburst) early in the third quarter. He picked up two technical fouls quicker than anyone could know what happened as he argued a foul he thought went uncalled.

But it was the team’s late-game execution that likely has them more frustrated after a 105-97 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on Sunday. Questionable calls from the officials were an easy scapegoat and something to blame at the moment. But not the root cause.

The bottom line is the Magic went more than six minutes without a field goal. D.J. Augustin gave Orlando a five-point lead as a pick stonewalled Mike Conley and a pass fake kept anyone from approaching him. He drained a 3-pointer that would end up being all the shots the Magic would make.

In the final two minutes, Wesley Iwundu had a dunk blocked by Jonas Valanciunas. That turned into Delon Wright drawing the slightest of touches for a foul and a lay-in on Wesley Iwundu. Coach Steve Clifford would say after the game that Iwundu should have had better situation awareness and if he could not get in front of him to trust a teammate to stop him or let him go. A two-point game is better than a one-point game.

The Magic turned the ball over anyway and Terrence Ross took a puzzling intentional foul to send Mike Conley to the line. After the Magic missed a shot, Conley provided the dagger with a jumper at the elbow.

The Magic unraveled from there, turning the ball over as they tried to force the ball to Terrence Ross to tie it. And Clifford would pick up two technical fouls arguing calls from there. The Grizzlies handed the Magic a crushing defeat.

EVAN FOURNIER. F. The two technical fouls <a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic

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

C. Orlando Magic. KHEM BIRCH. A-. The Orlando Magic were lost for much of the first quarter. Their offense was stuck in a rut and the defense was lax. The Memphis Grizzlies were going to get churning eventually without some kind of change. The Magic just were not bringing the energy they needed.<p><a href=

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

B+. The Memphis Grizzlies are certainly playing better than their record these days. Mike Conley will get a nomination for Western Conference Player of the Week with his run that included this game and his late-game heroics from this one in the process. They are a team comfortable in their defensive identity too. That was clear as the Magic found it difficult to make shots consistently against the Grizzlies’ starters.<p>Memphis still had its hiccups. The Magic made their run and took the lead in the fourth quarter. Memphis went quiet for a long time and it felt like Orlando might get away with playing a half defensive effort again. This was the kind of team where it might have worked.</p><p>But the Grizzlies play down the stretch was impressive, no matter how anyone cuts it. They locked down defensively and frustrated the Magic. They stuck to their guns offensively and kept the ball moving to work for open shots. Orlando gave a lot of them up and Memphis missed. Until the end. The Grizzlies had the plays to win.</p>. 28-40. 13th West. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

The Orlando Magic are next in action Wednesday against the Washington Wizards in the nation’s capital. The Orlando Magic now trail the Miami Heat by one game for the final spot in the NBA Playoffs.

Next. Orlando Magic get reminder to play to their standard. dark

With two more Orlando Magic wins or two more Cleveland Cavaliers losses, the Magic will be eliminated from receiving the top odds in the NBA Draft Lottery.