Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic go cold, can’t climb back against Detroit Pistons

The Orlando Magic could forget about all the frustrations and difficulties of the previous 40-plus minutes if they could just climb out o the hole. They had done it once already taking a brief lead in the third quarter behind some inspired play on both ends and quick ball movement and locked-in defense.

Everything seemed to crumble though as they tried to scramble back into the game. It is tough to play uphill. And it is even tougher to do so when the team is still learning to close games.

No amount of confidence is going to change that. A team still has to make shots. And enough misses are going to send everyone into frustrated looks.

That is what happened repeatedly down the stretch. None more than the team’s final possession.

Down by three points with eight seconds left after the Detroit Pistons’ own ill-advised late-game three, Cole Anthony got the ball going toward the far wing. He said after the game he was expecting a foul. Either way, he did not get a good look.

The Orlando Magic struggled to get good shots throughout the night and especially late as the Detroit Pistons held them off for the win.

Anthony heaved a forced 3-pointer that bounced off the far side of the backboard. That kind of rushed and contested shot was emblematic of the poor execution the Magic had offensively for much of the final few moments.

It ended with a 97-92 thud at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Saturday. The Pistons handed the Magic their eighth straight loss. And despite several close games, it feels like relief is not in sight.

Orlando could get over the fact it did not shoot the ball particularly well. But it was the poor execution and shot selection that had the team stinging late in the game.

The Magic were in a position to win the game if they could get good shots and make them. But consistently, the team settled for long-range shots and saw the ball stick. There was a lot of overdribbling as the team tried to get into the paint.

Anthony went 0 for 7 in the fourth quarter, an uncharacteristic cold spell with the game on the line. The Magic shot just 4 for 17 (23.5-percent) in the fourth quarter.

The team’s defense that was so reliable throughout the game fell apart too, notably when Cade Cunningham beat a switch and got into the lane forcing Terrence Ross to set up and allowing Hamidou Diallo free reign to the basket for dunk that put the Pistons up three late.

Orlando was chasing all game. They struggled to make up ground with an offense that just was not hitting any shots outside of Gary Harris and spurts from Cole Anthony and Terrence Ross.

They held on as long as they could. But they could not get over the hump. And trying to find wins remains a huge difficulty for the team.

Player Grades

Cole Anthony – C

Cole Anthony was hard on himself even as he kept perspective on the growth he understands he still has to make as a young player in this league. Anthony can still put up points with the best of them — he scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists. He made six of eight free throws.

But he made just 5 of 18 shots and 3 of 12 3-pointers. It was just a poor shooting night for Anthony. One where he was searching for his way back into the game by shooting his way out. And there were just not a lot of good shots in the process.

Anthony is usually reliable late in games to make the right decisions. Consistently in this one, he settled for bad shots and over-dribbled instead of keeping the ball moving. This has been Anthony’s unearned reputation as a shooting point guard. He has usually been good at keeping things moving even as he learns to pick his spots.

Gary Harris – A-

It is hard to be upset with much of anything Gary Harris did in this one. He was the one reliable offensive option for the Orlando Magic all night. And any time the Magic needed a shot, they found him and he delivered. If anything, the ball moved specifically for Harris on almost every occasion.

Harris scored a season-high 28 points, making 8 of 17 shots and 6 of 12 3-pointers. He was just hitting shots at every turn, continuing his strong offensive run from the last month. Harris has been a great veteran for this team, providing some much-needed stability.

His defense was also really good on Cade Cunningham for much of the night when they matched up. Cunningham scored only 12 on 3-for-14 shooting. This was not the showcase for the game’s rookies.

Harris was just reliable in every facet of the game, only running out of gas late with a few key misses.

Chuma Okeke – C-

Orlando Magic fans were a bit confused when the team opted to start Freddie Gillespie at power forward over Chuma Okeke with Wendell Carter out with a sore right hamstring. Fans have been trying to figure out what is wrong with Okeke and why he has continued to struggle all season.

Okeke ended up finishing the game because of the team’s decision to go small. Okeke earned that with some solid defense and some great work on the glass. He dug out 10 rebounds and was key to the team fighting its way back into this game.

Yet, Okeke still had a lot of work to do. His offense was virtually non-existent, making just one of his eight shots. He missed one of six 3-pointers, most of them spot-up looks. He did not turn the ball over, but he had a few possessions where he just looked like he was about to lose the ball any time he put it on the floor.

This is a big opportunity for Okeke and there is some level of trust with him defensively. But his offensive struggles are puzzling as he struggles to find his fit.

Mo Bamba – C+

Mo Bamba got a big opportunity with Wendell Carter out of the lineup to show he could be the anchor for the team and a good option moving forward. Bamba’s game was something of a mixed bag. It was hardly a consistent follow-up to his season-high 19 points in Wednesday’s game.

Bamba did some good things. He had four blocks and was a factor defending the rim and changing shots in the paint. That is a big thing Bamba can do without even trying. But he does not always display this kind of dominance. His chase-down block in transition was a fantastic play.

Still, Bamba could be a bigger presence inside. And Orlando could use that with Carter out of the game.

Bamba simply does not look to post-up much — he had one in this game which was established too far from the rim and ended with a long hook shot. The Magic do not even really expect him to turn and seal when he gets smaller defenders on him. That makes it hard to involve him consistently as the outlet a big man needs to be.

Detroit Pistons – B-

The Detroit Pistons came into the game with plenty of activity and energy. They had two embarrassing losses after a big win over the Milwaukee Bucks and they played like they had something to prove, especially defensively. They came in with a focus and energy the Orlando Magic struggled to match.

Detroit still did not play great. The Pistons missed their share of shots and did not really get themselves going. Despite Orlando shooting 33.7-percent for the game, Detroit very easily could have lost the game. It came down to the Pistons’ execution and defense. That is a good growth point for Detroit.

But Orlando had every chance to win this one and played one half of solid basketball — if that — and put itself in a position to win. The Pistons won and made the plays, but barely.

Orlando is now 7-33 and have the worst record in the NBA. The Orlando Magic are right back to work Sunday night in Orlando as they take on the Washington Wizards at the Amway Center.