Orlando Magic Daily
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2018-19 Orlando Magic Season Review: Top 10 games of the season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 5: Wes Iwundu #25 of the Orlando Magic reacts against the Atlanta Hawks on April 5, 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 Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 5: Wes Iwundu #25 of the Orlando Magic reacts against the Atlanta Hawks on April 5, 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 Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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10. The Impossible Comeback

Nov. 5: Magic 102, Cavaliers 100

The Orlando Magic were down by five points to the Cleveland Cavaliers with 40 seconds left after J.R. Smith hit one of his usual difficult 3-pointers. Orlando was following up a huge road win against the San Antonio Spurs with a letdown against a team that was already looking like one of the worst in the league.

Orlando’s effort was inconsistent at best throughout the game but their chances to win were slipping away. According to the site Inpredictable, a team with a five-point deficit and the ball has a 2.7 percent chance of winning.

After Evan Fournier missed a shot, things looked a bit bleaker. But Aaron Gordon somehow dug out the rebound and returned it to a one-possession game. Orlando would still need some help.

Aaron Gordon’s make to cut the deficit to three led to a mid-court turnover from Cedi Osman and a take foul to D.J. Augustin. His two free throws cut the deficit to one. Then with 16.6 seconds left, Kyle Korver turned the ball over. Evan Fournier tied the game after splitting a pair of free throws.

Nikola Vucevic blocked a shot out of bounds off a Cavaliers player. And Fournier did the rest, hitting a jumper at the buzzer to deliver a win.

This is the exact situation the Magic have found themselves in so many times in the last six years. The kind of games the Magic would seemingly give away despite an almost near certainty they would win it.

These heartbreaking losses were as much a sign of how poor things were going for the Magic overall as much as anything else. Coming back to win this one was the first signs that things were going to be different.

The Magic were beginning to change.