The Orlando Magic were dead in the water early on. But they stormed back behind their bench to score a road win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Orlando Magic have been looking for growth and consistency. They have shown glimpses of who they are but have seen something unravel them time and time again.
It might be their poor outside shooting or playmaking. It might be poor rotations or ball containment defensively. Or it might be a key rebound.
Especially in close games this year, the Magic have missed that final push to get them over the top. They have missed that last extra bit they need to win. That is as much a part of the Magic’s struggles and frustrations this year.
Have the Magic turned a corner? They will let the next month determine that. there are still plenty of games to play.
Tuesday night, it sure looked like it. When the Magic needed a spark, they found one. When they needed a big play, they found one. When they made a mistake, they made up for it.
When they needed to win, they put their stamp on the game.
After losing an eight-point lead with four minutes to play thanks to a foul on a 3-pointer and then another quick basket, the Magic found themselves in a tie game with about two minutes to play.
Orlando turned to the hot hand but turned to its defense to put the game away. The Memphis Grizzlies went the final 1:58 without making a field goal, getting a foul on a 3-pointer as their only points in the final two minutes. And Terrence Ross put the game away.
The Magic turned a miss in a 112-112 tie game into a Terrence Ross 3-pointer in the corner. They went the next possession with a pin down curl for Ross that he calmly drained. Ross scored 18 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, sparking the Magic to complete a comeback. their defense did the rest to contest and stymie the Grizzlies on the road for a 120-115 win.
Orlando had overcome a 17-point first-half deficit as the team came out completely flat and unable to stop Jonas Valanciunas in the post. But the Magic gradually fought their way back, erasing a 13-point halftime deficit behind a focused defensive effort.
That defense helped spark the team’s transition play. And the team was suddenly playing on the right foot, moving the ball quickly around the perimeter and inside out and driving the ball into the heat of the defense.
Orlando upped its physicality to match what Memphis did early and the team proved more than capable of taking a firm hold. Even if there is still plenty to work on. The Magic can count another solid come-from-behind win over the Grizzlies late in the season.
The Orlando Magic are now 30-35, one-half game behind the Brooklyn Nets for seventh in the Eastern Conference and 5.5 games ahead of the Washington Wizards for the final playoff spot. The Magic’s magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 12 Magic wins or 12 Wizards losses.
The Orlando Magic return home to face the Chicago Bulls on Thursday at the Amway Center.