The Orlando Magic came out flat in what felt like a critical game, again falling apart down the stretch of a close game and never bringing the right energy.
Playoff teams can play horrible for a half and still give themselves a chance. Their “bad” efforts — even their worst efforts at times — still leave them with a chance to win. There are very few times at this point where the Orlando Magic are not in the games at the end.
What is happening is the second part that a Playoff team has to do. That is to have the mental strength and fortitude to play your best down the stretch. The Magic have to find a way to close these games. Increasingly, the Magic keep on losing and keep on losing in frustrating fashion.
Again, the Magic found themselves tied with about six minutes to play against the Washington Wizards. Aaron Gordon dug out a steal on Jabari Parker and raced ahead of the pack finding Wesley Iwundu for a dunk and a tie game.
It would again come down to late-game execution on both ends for the Magic. It is too simplistic to say it was about “who wants it more” but the games are getting to that point where it is about intensity, urgency and precision.
Far too often, the Magic do not seem to have any of this. The Wizards went on an 11-2 run to reassert control of the game. The Magic went 1 for 5 in that stretch, often settling for long jumpers with few passes and little dribble penetration.
The Magic could never truly get their offense going and shot just 38.9 percent. More tellingly, they took just nine free throws.
The Wizards got their offense going at the right time. Thomas Bryant destroyed the Magic in the pick and roll and on the offensive glass for 21 points and 10 rebounds. He finished the Magic off with about a minute to play and gave the Wizards a 100-90 win at Capital One Arena on Wednesday.
Even the few moments of clarity for Orlando were not enough. The Magic are good enough to keep themselves in the game despite extremely poor efforts. But they are not good enough to win them. To make the Playoffs they have to find a way to be good enough to win them and not simply settle for the first good shot they get.
The Orlando Magic are right back into action Thursday at the Amway Center against the Cleveland Cavaliers to begin a five-game homestand.
The Orlando Magic now trail the Miami Heat by two games for the final spot in the Playoffs. With one Magic win or one Cavaliers loss, the Magic will be eliminated from receiving the top odds in the NBA Draft Lottery.