Despite finishing with seven double-digit scorers, Orlando (5-5) let Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie (29 points), Mikal Bridges (21) and Cameron Johnson (20) combine for 70 points as they lifted the Nets to a 124-104 victory.

“We talk about not beating ourselves … 16 turnovers for 27 points is not going to get the job done,” coach Jamahl Mosley said after the loss. “That’s just a very simple fact. You’re not giving yourself a chance there.”

The Magic have a quick turnaround as the team travels overnight to Chicago for the second of a back-to-back Wednesday against the Bulls at United Center (Bally Sports Florida, 8).

Starting 5

With Markelle Fultz (left knee tendinitis) out for the second game in a row, Mosley turned once again to rookie Anthony Black, who joined Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Goga Bitadze to open the game.

The first group failed to find its shot early (0 of 5 from 3 in the first quarter) but got things rolling offensively after recording 6 turnovers in the opening 12 minutes.

Wagner, who hit a half-court heave as the first quarter came to a close, finished with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists but only scored 4 points in the final frame.

Banchero missed his first 3-point attempt but shot 4 of 7 from distance. Inside the arc however, he wasn’t as accurate in shooting 2 of 8 to total 19 points.

After diving for a loose ball in the third quarter and colliding with Johnson, Suggs quickly left the game holding his right arm. Suggs (10 points) was able to return late in the quarter after being tended to on the bench.

“He’s a tough kid,” Mosley said. “He [was] still fighting through screens, bumping off guys. I think he’ll be OK.”

Bitadze scored 5 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter and only missed one shot (a 3).

Second Unit

As veteran Gary Harris (right groin strain) sat for a fifth straight game, it was Joe Ingles who provided the 3-point shooting.

Ingles gave an instant boost off the bench, hitting three 3-pointer in the first half. But after scoring 11 (4 of 4) before the break, he didn’t attempt another shot.

He joined Moe Wagner, Cole Anthony, Jonathan Isaac and Caleb Houstan as Mosley used a 10-man rotation before halftime.

Moe Wagner continued to be a reliable scorer diving to the rim off pick-and-rolls while shooting efficiently from the free throw line (5 of 6) to finish with 11 points.

Anthony (10 points) recorded 3 turnovers in the first half but scored 5 points in the third quarter after Suggs went to the bench.

Houstan only saw two minutes of action midway in the second quarter before returning late in the game once the final result was clear.

Rookie Watch

Black recorded two fouls in the first quarter and struggled to find shot (0 of 3 from 3) in first three frames. He went to bench with 4:11 left in the third and didn’t return until late in the fourth with the game well out of reach.

Although Mosley cleared his bench in the final minute, Jett Howard actually made an appearance with 4:22 remaining and the Magic down 15.

Mosley said he was hoping Howard could provide some spacing on offense.

Similar to Black’s inaccurate night, Howard went 0 of 4 from beyond the arc.

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.

Black, who Orlando selected sixth overall in June, has stepped up for the Magic in more ways than one while Fultz continues to deal with left knee tendinitis.

“He’s a tough kid,” coach Jamahl Mosley told the Sentinel ahead of a 124-104 loss, with Black playing 19 minutes and shooting just 1-for-4 for 2 points. “He understands the game and knows how to read it. He’s a competitor. He’s a guy that’s not afraid of big moments or any situation that you put him in.”

Entering the Magic’s first In-Season Tournament against the Nets, Black was averaging 6.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

What’s perhaps most eye-catching about the Arkansas product is his ability to shoot from beyond the arc. Although it’s a small sample size, Black entered Tuesday’s game shooting 50% (5 of 10) from 3-point range. That’s up from what he shot from distance (30%) during his one season with the Razorbacks.

He went 0-for-3 in Brooklyn, but remains ahead of schedule. Black has worked closely with Magic shooting coach Jeremiah Boswell since his arrival this summer.

“One thing that he does is, he works his tail off on his shot,” Mosley said about the rookie. “He’s always asking for extra work and that’s what has gotten him to this point.”

Youthful Magic continuing to learn how to handle success and grow together

But there’s more to Black than just shooting. It’s his effort on defense that allows the Magic to trust him so early in his career. Time and time again, he’s used his length to stay in front of and disrupt some of the league’s top guards, including Mavericks’ Luka Doncic and Atlanta’s Trae Young.

“He’s done a great job,” Mosley said. “The one thing I’ve constantly told him is, ‘Don’t focus always so much on the shot. Focus on being the basketball player you can be.’ That’s why I talk about his basketball IQ and defensive tenacity.”

Black’s teammates have noticed his confidence on the court.

“I do like [that] he’s got a little feistiness to him,” center Moe Wagner said. “He talks a little smack sometimes which I like. I can [empathize] with that.”

Added forward Paolo Banchero: “He’s getting better every game, every day. He’s a quick learner and picks up on things very fast. He just makes winning plays, whether it’s defense or offense. He just plays what the team needs.”

What happened Tuesday wasn’t indicative of Black’s subtle impact. Spencer Dinwiddie (game-high 29 points) and Royce O’Neale (13) combined to shoot 9-for-16 from 3 as Brooklyn caught fire to blow open a one-possession game entering the fourth quarter.

Franz Wagner led the Magic with 21 points, Paolo Banchero posted 19 and Goga Bitadze finished with a season-high 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting.

Still, the Magic believe they can win with Black. They trailed 88-86 after three quarters until Brooklyn scored 36 in the final 12 minutes. Black was on the bench until playing the final minute of garbage time.

Moe Wagner noted that Black hasn’t shied away from being asked to start in place of Fultz, who traveled with the Magic on the four-game road trip and is considered day-to-day.

“[He] takes the challenge as it is, which is hard sometimes as a rookie coming into a program that’s trying go somewhere,” Wagner said about Black. “Every day — whether it’s starting or not playing — he’s taking up on that challenge and trying to learn.

“That’s what it is as a young player.”

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That’s because it’s Orlando’s first In-Season Tournament (IST) group-play matchup of the year.

“It’s a great opportunity for guys just to continue to show what they’re capable of doing at a high level of competition with those stakes being more with the bragging rights of the In-Season,” coach Jamahl Mosley said after practice Monday.

Of course, there’s more to the IST than just bragging rights. There’s also money up for grabs.

Players on the winning team of the IST championship each receive $500,000. That number drops to $200,000 for losing the NBA Cup. Falling in the semifinals is worth $100,000 and exiting in the quarterfinals are half of that.

“It has some meaning — $500,000 is on the line,” Magic forward Paolo Banchero said after Orlando’s Saturday win vs. the Bucks. “I don’t know about you; I’m going hard.

“Just naturally, the intensity is elevated.”

Before the money gets involved, however, there’s group play.

The Magic (5-4) are grouped with Brooklyn, Boston, Toronto and Chicago, the latter of which they visit on Wednesday and Friday, with the second meeting an IST contest.  Orlando faces each of its East Group C opponents over the course of the next two weeks.

It’s a major shift in the schedule for the Magic, who battled just two Eastern Conference teams (Hawks and Bucks) in their opening nine games.

Youthful Magic continuing to learn how to handle success and grow together

Eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds: the team with the best record in the group stage in the six groups and two “wild cards” — the team from each conference with the best record in group-play games that finished second.

The knockout rounds will consist of single-elimination games in the quarterfinals — played in NBA markets Dec. 4-5 — and semifinals and championship, which will be played in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 and 9.

“The guys are definitely ready,” Mosley said. “They’ve heard from a couple of teams talking about the intensity going up. For us, we just want to continue the same level of growth and and focus that we’ve had.”

When the Magic face Brooklyn (5-5), Orlando won’t have regular starting point guard Markelle Fultz (left knee tendinitis) for the second straight and fifth overall game this season. They’ll also be without veteran guard Gary Harris (right groin strain) for a fifth game in a row.

Fultz is considered day-to-day, Mosley said, while Harris was able to get on the court “a little bit” during Monday’s practice. Both are traveling with the team as they begin a four-game trip.

The Nets, who already lost to the Celtics but beat the Bulls as part of IST group play, are dealing with their own injuries as well.

Brooklyn will be without top scorer Cam Thomas (26.9 points in eight games) against the Magic due to a sprained left ankle. Starting point guard Ben Simmons (left hip contusion) is also out while guard Lonnie Walker IV (left knee contusion) is questionable.

Health screening program makes stop in Orlando

This past weekend, the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) brought its acclaimed health screening program for former NBA, WNBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotter players based in Orlando to Amway Center.

Those players underwent wide-ranging screening procedures that included blood work, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and cardiology consultations.

Launched in conjunction with the NBA Players Association in 2016, the health screening program focuses on player health and delivers thorough cost-effective  healthcare to its members while addressing many of the medical issues experienced by the NBRPA population.

“This program presents an incredible occasion for us to bring this impactful program to where our members live and we look forward to continuing to bring this invaluable benefit to other markets across the United States,” NBRPA president Scott Rochelle said in a statement.

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.

That was in large part due to injuries sustained by guards Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony and Gary Harris combined with a young roster and key players still figuring out their roles on the team.

Through just nines games this year, however, Orlando already has reached five wins and the team (5-4) has largely been competitive against strong opponents.

Two of their four losses have been by a combined 4 points — a 3-point shortcoming against the Lakers on the road in the third game of the season and a 1-point loss to the Hawks in Mexico City last Thursday.

Tuesday’s road game against the Nets (5-5) will serve as another test to better understand just how much the Magic have grown as a team from last season.

“Though we didn’t like the outcome in Mexico City, there’s things you can show on film that you learn from,” coach Jamahl Mosley said after Saturday’s 112-97 win against the Bucks. “That’s what these guys did. They didn’t panic [or] overreact to anything. They just continued to play the right way.”

Beede’s Breakdown: How Magic snapped 14-game losing streak to Bucks

The Magic led by as many as 21 points against Milwaukee and as the Bucks made their run in the fourth quarter, Orlando was able to hold on thanks to the play of stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

The duo scored 8 of the Magic’s 13 final points after the Bucks cut the deficit to 11 with under eight minutes to play. Banchero and Wagner combined for 50 on the night.

“This team is [going to] continue to learn to handle success,” Mosley said. “Because when you have the lead, teams are coming for you. You’ve got to learn to play the mini games and win the little, small battles throughout the game.”

Wagner said he believes the Magic’s ability to close out games against teams such as the Bucks — who finished last season with the best record in the Eastern Conference — isn’t a talent question.

“It’s more of a mindset of who we are in those last four minutes and locking in defensively,” he said.

Added Banchero: “We just came to the huddle [and] I told everybody to just stay poised, stay aggressive and just finish the game out. That’s what we did.”

Orlando forced 19 turnovers (including five in the fourth quarter) and turned those into 20 points against the Bucks, who shot 31% from 3-point range. It was another strong defensive performance that made the difference on a night that saw the Magic shoot 42.9% from the field.

As the Magic continue to monitor Fultz (left knee tendinitis), provide treatment to Harris (sore right groin) and wait for the return of big man Wendell Carter Jr. (fractured third metacarpal in left hand), Orlando will rely on its growth and depth to try to capture its sixth win of the season entering just its 10th game.

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X, also known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner combined to score 50 as they powered the Magic to the team’s first win, 112-97, against the Bucks at Amway Center since 2018.

“We knew this was kind of — I don’t want to say this was a must-win — but this was a game that we couldn’t play around [with] or come out flat,” Banchero said after the game. “We had to be on 100 [percent] from the jump so that was just our mentality.

“Beating a team like that, it’s a good feeling but we’re able to compete with anybody.”

Fultz missed his fourth game of the year due to left knee tendinitis, which is the same knee that he had surgery on to repair a torn ACL eight games into the 2020-21 season.

While the Magic were without Fultz, the Bucks didn’t have All-Star guard Damian Lillard due to right calf soreness. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 35.

The Magic travel to Brooklyn on Tuesday to open group play of the In-Season Tournament and begin a four-game road trip.

Starting 5

With Fultz out, rookie Anthony Black returned to the Magic’s starting lineup as he’s done twice already this season filling in for the regular starting point guard.

The No. 6 overall pick joined Jalen Suggs, Wagner, Banchero and Goga Bitadze against the Bucks as the team continues to adjust without Wendell Carter Jr., who underwent surgery last week to repair a fractured third metacarpal in his left hand.

Suggs was able to get to the free throw line early, sinking 8 of 10 attempts in the first half. Although he shot the ball well from distance (2 of 3), he failed to scored in the second half to finish with 18.

Banchero (26 points) attacked the basket and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the year.

Wagner (24) did much of the same as Banchero. He pushed the ball in transition at times while cutting and rolling to the basket during offensive sets.

Second Unit

With Gary Harris (sore right groin) missing his fourth game in a row, coach Jamahl Mosley turned to Joe Ingles, Cole Anthony, Jonathan Isaac and Moe Wagner for a 9-man rotation.

Playing against his former team, Ingles served as a playmaker at times for the Magic, distributing the ball for 5 assists. He struggled, however, to shoot the ball from distance, where he went 1 of 4.

Moe Wagner powered the bench on offense with 19 points but it was Isaac (10 points) who closed out the game with Orlando’s starters as he helped defend Antetokounmpo.

Rookie Watch

Black played off ball with starters as others such as Wagner, Suggs and Banchero brought the ball up the court most of the time.

He was quiet on offense scoring just 2 points on 1-of-3 shooting with 3 assists but played late in the game due to the length he offers on defense.

Harris Health Update

Mosley shared an updated timeline pregame on the veteran sharpshooter.

“We’re continuing to evaluate him as he’s going through more things on the court now,” Mosley said. “It’s going to continue to be a day-to-day look at him and what he’s doing.”

Harris returning sooner rather than later would bode for the Magic, who miss his 3-point accuracy.

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X, also known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.

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.

Magic close in on new naming-rights partner for arena

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.

Despite 21 points from Jalen Suggs and seven double-digit scorers for Orlando, Jamahl Mosley’s squad fell 120-119 to Atlanta (5-3), which was powered by 41 points from All-Star guard Trae Young at Arena CDMX.

The matchup, which counted as a home game for Orlando (4-4), was the Magic’s first against an Eastern Conference opponent.

The Magic return to Amway Center on Saturday to host the Milwaukee Bucks (Bally Sports Florida, 6) before heading to Brooklyn on Tuesday to open group play of the NBA In-Season Tournament against the Nets and starting a four-game road trip.

Starting 5

Markelle Fultz returned to the starting lineup after missing the last three games due to left knee tendinitis.

He joined regulars Suggs, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. Center Goga Bitadze made his second consecutive start in place of Wendell Carter Jr., who recently underwent surgery to repair a fractured third metacarpal in his left hand.

Fultz scored 13 points in 29 minutes with Orlando’s first five.

Suggs shot the ball well to finish 4 of 5 from 3-point range. On defense, he added a career-high 6 steals despite picking up three fouls in the first half.

Banchero, who missed the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final seconds, finished with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists but recorded a game-high 5 turnovers.

The starters were responsible for 13 of Orlando’s 19 turnovers, which Atlanta turned into 25 points.

Second Unit

Reserve sharpshooter Gary Harris (right groin strain) missed his third straight game.

With Harris out and the Magic adjusting to the high altitude of Mexico City, Mosley used 11 players.

Mosley leaned with Moe Wagner and Jonathan Isaac down the stretch of the game instead of Bitadze, who was prone to fouling and sending Atlanta to the line for freebies. Wagner led the bench with 13 points.

Initially listed as questionable, Isaac (sore left hamstring) upgraded to available a few hour before tipoff. He caused havoc on defense with 2 blocks and 7 rebounds while adding 12 points in 16 minutes.

Chuma Okeke made a first-half appearance but only played two minutes with a badly missed 3-pointer.

Rookie Watch

Anthony Black scored 9 points in 17 minutes. Despite three fouls in the first half, Black played reliable defense and used his length to cause problems at times for Young.

A corner 3 in the fourth quarter moved him to 5 of 8 from beyond the arc for the season (62.5%). Black shot 30% in one year at Arkansas.

Commissioner’s Comments

During an in-game interview in the first quarter, NBA commissioner Adam Silver raved about the Magic and the team’s potential.

He described Orlando as a team that’s “on the up and up” while highlighting coaching, roster talent and organization leadership.

“Coach Mosley, I think, he’s done a fantastic job,” Silver said. “Again, congratulations to the Wagners for winning the World Cup, of course, in basketball.

“You’ve got a lot of incredible talent on this team. They’re really well coached. Great leadership from the top and great ownership. So, all of the ingredients for an up and coming franchise. We’re seeing it on the floor tonight.”

More missed free throws

Orlando entered with the sixth-worst free throw percentage (73.1%) and not much changed in Mexico City.

The Magic shot 25 of 35 from the charity stripe (71.4%) against the Hawks.

Ten missed free throws. A 1-point loss.

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X, also known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.

Known as Amway Center since its opening in 2010, the arena has garnered a far-reaching level of interest, hosting an estimated 1.4 million visitors each year overall for events.

Because of that, the Magic have entertained potential new naming-rights opportunities. The team has been in the market for approximately a year, Sports Business Journal first reported.

“We are in the process of identifying a new naming rights partner,” Joel Glass, the Magic’s chief communications officer, said in an email to the Sentinel.

The NBA also has expanded the teams’ commercial rights that allow organizations to market with their partners internationally. As a result, Amway Global is looking into future opportunities in key international markets.

Magic aim to adjust better in 3rd quarter, stick to principles going forward

The Magic and Amway originally reached a 10-year, $40 million naming-rights deal.

While it’s not yet known which company the Magic will pick as the arena’s naming partner, it’s likely the new deal will be worth more money.

In 2018, the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm reached a 20-year, $175 million agreement for its arena, which was lauded as one of richest naming rights deals in NBA, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Earlier this year in South Florida, the Heat struck a 17-year, $117 million deal with software company Kaseya Limited, according to the Miami Herald.

Of course, buyers beware. That deal with Kaseya only came after the Heat’s 19-year, $135 million naming rights agreement with FTX fell through after the cryptocurrency exchange filed for bankruptcy.

The Magic feel confident about their business options.

“There’s competition even within Florida, and overall, the market is flooded with [sports sponsorship] assets,” Magic CEO Alex Martins recently told SBJ. “I feel good in telling you we’re happy about where we are.

“We’re going to end up in a really good place with our entitlement, probably within 60 days.”

The arena will soon benefit from nearby construction of a long-awaited $500 million sports and entertainment complex across the street.

The Magic recently picked a development team and set an anticipated start in 2024, according to a report in GrowthSpotter.

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X, also known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.

Now the Orlando star realizes the full-circle moment as kids overseas watch him play basketball.

“It’s a huge responsibility and I want to make sure I do the best with the opportunity I get,” he said after practice Wednesday.

Wagner and the rest of the Magic (4-3) get the chance Thursday to help continue to grow the game internationally when Orlando faces the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Mexico City Game 2023 (Bally Sports Florida, 9:30 p.m.) at Arena CDMX.

“Our team and organization love it,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “The fan support is absolutely incredible, especially down here in Mexico City. They’re knowledgeable, passionate, hardworking and dedicated fans.”

The matchup, which counts as an Orlando home game, marks the Magic’s fourth game in Mexico since 2012. A number of current players, however, are in the country for the first time.

Guard Cole Anthony was quick to note the change in altitude, calling it “no joke.” Surrounded by mountains, Mexico City sits 7,350 feet above sea level.

Although the team recently played the Jazz in Salt Lake City (which has an altitude of 4,265 feet), the difference is noticeable for Orlando.

“It helped a little bit but this is definitely … the first couple of steps up and down you definitely felt it,” Wagner said. “Atlanta is going to have the same problem also, so it should be fun.”

The Hawks (4-3) feature All-Star guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray in their backcourt as well as a strong frontcourt with Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu.

“They have elite pick-and-roll ballhandlers,” Mosley said. “They have a great isolation player in Trae, who’s making great decisions for his teammates. They have a rim presence in Capela and Okongwu.

“Then they have shooting. They mix it up very well and do a great job sharing the basketball.”

Magic aim to adjust better in 3rd quarter, stick to principles going forward

The Magic are hoping to have back a pair of rotation players in guard Markelle Fultz (left knee tendinitis) and big man Jonathan Isaac (sore left hamstring).

Fultz, who’s missed three straight games, is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game while Isaac is probable. Guard Gary Harris (right groin strain) already has been ruled out for the third game in a row.

“I feel good,” Fultz said. “I got a chance to go through a full practice and everything’s feeling really good. So hopefully … do a proper treatment [Wednesday] night and be ready to go.”

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Orlando will need to put together a stronger performance in the third frame to compete with the Atlanta Hawks, who are one of the best teams in that quarter, Thursday when the sides meet for the NBA Mexico City Game 2023 (Bally Sports Florida, 9:30 p.m.).

The Magic’s net rating of minus-21.8 in third quarters is fourth-worst in the NBA. This doesn’t just indicate that they aren’t making shots, but this makes it easier for the opponent to score because often it isn’t facing a set defense that can get properly matched up off made bakets.

Missed jump shots — sometimes leading to long rebounds — also can ignite fast breaks against the Magic which lead to higher-percentage looks.

The Hawks (4-3) have a net rating of plus-14.7 in the third quarter.

The second-best third quarter team in the league? The Dallas Mavericks, who overwhelmed Orlando after halftime on Monday at Amway Center en route to a 15-point win.

The Magic, who led most of the first half and by as many as 15 points, were dominant despite Dallas shooting 50%. They also outrebounded the Mavs 20-10 and made 59% of their own attempts, getting up six more shots.

They opened on a 10-2 run in the third but everything quickly changed.

Orlando’s 17 third-quarter points were the lowest of the season in any 12-minute stretch. The Magic only did slightly better in the fourth with 19 points. Meanwhile, Dallas scored 33 and 31 to close strong.

“To be honest with you, the game wasn’t over in the third quarter,” Magic center Moe Wagner said. “I remember looking up with five minutes to go and we were down two. Those are close games.”

Beede’s breakdown: How Magic came up short at home vs. Mavericks

After recording 20 first-half assists, Orlando totaled just seven in the second half, including three in the third quarter when it shot 7-for-24 as Dallas packed the paint to take away the paint and eliminated seams for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to attack.

Missing rotation players Wendell Carter Jr., Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris and Jonathan Isaac with injuries put a strain on the bench. But playing just two quarters of solid basketball isn’t enough to win consistently in the NBA.

It’s something Mosley wants to avoid moving forward.

“They put their foot on the gas and we allowed shot making or missing to impact our defense, which we know that’s not who we are,” he said. “Whether we’re making or missing shots, our defense has to sit down and guard.”

Wagner wanted to remind his teammates to continue to play hard. It’s still too early enough for data points to become trends of a team, too.

“We can’t put our heads down,” he said. “That’s part of being young as well [which is] to learn from that. Even though we were up, then you’re down, and it feels like you lost already, no. We’ve got to keep fighting.”

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X, also known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.