10 losses the Orlando Magic regret from the 2023 season

10 losses the Orlando Magic will regret from 2023

10.  Dec. 19 at Atlanta Hawks

The Orlando Magic were on their six-game winning streak that had revived their season.

But the Magic were not going to win out the rest of the season. That loss was going to come eventually. And everyone wondered how the Magic would react to losing again. Was this win streak a mirage or the start of something for the team?

None of it seemed to matter. Orlando just needed to stay in the moment and take it one game at a time. And when they faced that deficit and the potential to lose, it would be a true test of their character.

They showed that character in erasing a 12-point deficit with just more than three minutes to play on a Markelle Fultz lay-up.

But the team showed its youth in the end. On the Hawks’ final play, Paolo Banchero made a rookie mistake and fouled Dejounte Murray on a last-second jump shot to seal the game. Orlando could not get a shot off to try to retake the lead. Their win streak was over and an important lesson was learned.

The Magic fought and rallied and put themselves in a position to win this game and made a mistake and suffered a heartbreaking loss. Banchero individually learned from this game and moving forward will make himself a better defender. It will pay off in future close games.

9. Jan. 13 at Utah Jazz

Losing close games are never fun. However, losing on a last-second shot and failing on fundamental aspects of games down the stretch is what makes these losses even worse. Especially with a chance to get a win in a tough road environment while on a long road trip.

In a back-and-forth game down the stretch of the fourth quarter, the ball ended up with Collin Sexton at the free-throw line with 15.1 seconds with the Utah Jazz with a one-point lead.

Sexton missed both free throws but the Orlando Magic gave up the offensive rebound and allowed Walker Kessler to take and make two free throws. The Jazz would hold on to win the close game as some of the Magic’s rebounding troubles came to the front.

Utah had 17 offensive rebounds with Kessler grabbing seven on his own as Orlando struggled to secure the little plays necessary to win.

Giving up offensive rebounds on free throws, especially at the end of games, is inexcusable. Making these mistakes takes away your own opportunity to win games. Orlando has to take advantage of chances to win games if they want to take the next step as team.

This was yet another lesson for a young team and a game that slipped through Orlando’s fingers.