As the Magic continue to grow as a young squad under third-year coach Jamahl Mosley, the team will have to improve how it performs on offense in late-game situations against stronger competition.
That will likely be needed when Orlando (4-4) hosts the Milwaukee Bucks (5-3) at Amway Center on Saturday (Bally Sports Florida, 6) if the Magic want to snap a two-game losing streak.
Led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo — who scored 54 points in a 126-124 loss at Indiana on Thursday — and newly acquired All-Star guard Damian Lillard (who’s listed as questionable with a calf injury), the Bucks are 4-1 in “clutch” games through the early part of the season.
A game is considered clutch when there are less than five minutes remaining in it and the scoring margin is within 5 points. The Magic are 2-3 so far in those situations, including Thursday’s 120-119 loss to the Hawks in Mexico City.
Beede’s breakdown: Magic come up short to Hawks, Trae Young’s 41 points in Mexico City
Magic forward Paolo Banchero, who missed the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final seconds against Atlanta, understands the importance of closing out games better but he’d like to avoid those situations in the first place.
“Obviously, we want to finish games better but also the way we start games,” he said after Thursday’s loss. “It’s easy to blame the last two or three minutes of the game but the first three quarters, turnovers, free throws and different things like that all play a part.”
And Banchero is right.
In a 1-point loss, the Magic missed 10 free throws (25 of 35) and turned the ball over 19 times, which Atlanta turned into 25 points.
“We gave ourselves an opportunity, but we talked about not beating ourselves and this was one of those games,” Mosley said. “Give the Hawks credit but we let it get away from us.”
While the Magic are aware they need to increase their team’s 72.8% success rate at the free throw line and limit turnovers in the opening quarters, they also know clutch games are bound to happen again.
Orlando has been outscored 30-20 by opponents in clutch situations this year in large part due to poor shooting and lack of ball control in the final five minutes.
Although it’s still early, the Magic are 1 of 9 (or a league-worst 9.1%) from 3-point range and have turned the ball over 9 times in clutch stretches.
It’s possible the team could get back some shooting against the Bucks. Veteran guard Gary Harris, who’s missed three straight due to a right groin strain, is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game.
The matchup against the Bucks starts at 6 p.m. ET instead of 7, which is an hour earlier than it usually would have for an Eastern Conference meeting in Orlando. That’s because the game will be distributed internationally to 30-plus countries, including Denmark, Brazil, China, Italy, Israel, France and the Philippines.
If the Magic find themselves in another clutch game similar to Thursday’s loss to Atlanta, they’re aiming for a different outcome against the Bucks in front of a global audience.
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X, also known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.
![Magic rookie Anthony Black made his fourth start Tuesday night against the Nets. His teammates have noticed his confidence on the court. "I do like [that] he's got a little feistiness to him," Orlando center Moe Wagner said. "He talks a little smack sometimes which I like."](https://www.orlandosentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Magic-Nets-Basketball.jpg?w=525 "Magic rookie Anthony Black made his fourth start Tuesday night against the Nets. His teammates have noticed his confidence on the court. \"I do like [that] he's got a little feistiness to him,\" Orlando center Moe Wagner said. \"He talks a little smack sometimes which I like.\"")
