Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic’s defense fails in Sacramento

The Orlando Magic — this Orlando Magic team — scored 67 points in the first half. They were comfortably over 100 with six minutes to play in the fourth quarter after failing to reach 100 points in six of the last eight games.

The team was able to flow and hit open 3-pointers or get into the paint with post-ups.

By all accounts, this should have been a win. The Magic just cannot be in the business of losing games when they score 130 points and shot 49.5-percent from the floor including hitting 16 3-pointers. These are the offensive bursts the Magic will rarely get, even if they are against poor defensive teams.

The difference in the game though was clear. And it was something that was all on the Magic.

Turnovers have been the story for the team for the past week and Orlando committed seven in a critical stretch early in the third quarter. The Sacramento Kings were able to expand their lead in the quarter to 16 points.

Orlando was climbing uphill from there, unable to get stops consistently and unable to catch up to a Sacramento team that was always on the run. The Kings defeated the Magic 142-130 at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday, wasting one of the Magic’s best offensive efforts of the season.

The Orlando Magic had a strong offensive showing but their defense never got going as they fell to the Sacramento Kings.

Orlando was able to calm itself after giving away those possessions and falling behind in the third quarter. But it was a never-ending uphill climb.

The Magic could never really etch into the lead even with their shots falling because their defense was just so poor.

The Kings not only scored an opponent season-high 142 points, but they also shot 54.6-percent from the floor and 21 for 25 from the foul line. Sacramento grabbed 12 offensive rebounds for 17 second-chance points. Orlando might have ended up with more but with such razor-thin margins, Sacramento’s clean-ups just seemed to hurt a whole lot more.

It was all those little mistakes that added up to the loss. Orlando was unable to defend or get stops and it showed time and time again.

That only heightened the cost of every mistake. The Magic had that half-quarter lull that just buried them again. They could count their own mistakes for why the Kings were able to get separation.

But they also had to feel their offense was not going to last. At the end of the day, the team needs its defense and it just was not there over and over again.

Player Grades

Cole Anthony – B

Even with the Orlando Magic down double-digits with two minutes to go, Cole Anthony was still grinding and still trying to get the team back into the game. With the way he was scoring and penetrating at will, who was going to believe he could not? That is at least something (whether it is anything, I will leave that up to David Steele).

Anthony scored 33 points on 12-for-22 shooting. He made six of nine 3-pointers in the game too while also dishing out eight assists. Anthony did everything possible on the court to keep the Magic in the game and help them climb back in. He was confidently shooting over defenders and driving into the lane to hit tough runners and set others up.

His only issues were he was as responsible as anyone for the team’s third-quarter turnover fest. He had three turnovers in the game with two coming in that third quarter. There were a few careless ones, but most were aggressive turnovers trying to make a pass or play. The Kings’ defense swarmed in one burst and that was enough for the deficit.

Still, this loss was not for Anthony’s lack of trying, even if he struggled at times to get around screens and keep De’Aaron Fox out of the paint.

Wendell Carter – B

Wendell Carter also could count another really strong individual game. The Orlando Magic know they can rely pretty heavily on Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter and Franz Wagner to boost whatever lineup they have. They leaned on all three heavily in this game too.

Carter scored 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and six assists. The Magic ran a lot of offense through him, situating him in the high post and running dribble hand-offs and cuts off Carter to initiate their offense. Carter made a lot of good passes and decisions throughout the course of the game. And he was even a force on the inside.

But his turnovers stood out. He had four turnovers in the game — two in the tell-tale third quarter. His were mostly aggressive turnovers trying to hit cutters toward the basket. That is still a part of his game that is growing.

Terrence Ross – B+

Terrence Ross got warm in this game. How do you know? It is not merely that he scored a ton. He threw down another thunderous jam, attacking the paint off the dribble and throwing the clock back to his younger days when he could fly.

Ross scored 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting with three makes from beyond the arc. He looked like the familiar Human Torch as always. He got fouled on a 3-pointer and was a constant threat, only cooling off late as the Magic were desperately trying to get back into the game.

Robin Lopez – A-

Robin Lopez got a surprise call to the court early in the game and worked as the third center in this game. Lopez’s playing time has been sporadic, but nobody will fault him for not being ready. Lopez entered the game and delivered for the team.

Lopez scored 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting with five offensive rebounds. He did a good job being present on the glass and setting up his hook shot. He was setting good screens too.

Lopez, maybe, dropped a bit too much on his pick and roll coverages. But Lopez was a pleasant surprise and another reason why losing this game stung so much.

Sacramento Kings – A-

The Sacramento Kings did whatever they wanted all night. Sure, the defense was poor, but the Kings were playing their style all night. They got up and down the court and played at a fast pace. They sucked the Orlando Magic into that tempo. And they were just always on the attack.

De’Aaron Fox scored 33 points on 12-for-18 shooting. He got to whatever spot he wanted and hit every mid-range jumper he took. Tyrese Haliburton had 18 points and 11 assists. Davion Mitchell scored 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Again, every guard got wherever they wanted and hit shots against a defense that was hanging back way too much.

The Magic fall to 5-21, 14th in the Eastern Conference. They are back in action Saturday at 3:30 against the L.A. Clippers in Los Angeles.