With the Magic leading the Kings 107-106 with 25.6 seconds remaining in Saturday’s game at Kia Center, Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes inbounded the ball to De’Aaron Fox near midcourt.
Orlando guard Jalen Suggs defended Fox closely before backing off after making brief contact.
About three seconds later, Fox lost his balance and Suggs was called for a foul.
Suggs couldn’t believe it. Nor could Magic coach Jamahl Mosley and the fans inside the arena.
Fox went onto make both the tying and go-ahead free throws before Keon Ellis later added another free throw to secure the two-point victory and snap Orlando’s five-game winning streak.
“I don’t understand why I would want to foul in that situation but I put myself in a situation to let the refs call it, and I can do better on that part,” Suggs told the Sentinel post-game in the Magic locker room. “I don’t think it was anything more than that, to be honest.”
The NBA’s Last Two-Minute Report, which is the league’s assessment of officiated events that occurred in the last two minutes of games that were at or within 3 points during any point in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter (and overtime, where applicable), confirmed the correct call was made.
“Suggs extends his hand into Fox’s torso and delivers contact that affects his SQBR. This contact occurs prior to, and causes, Fox to then step on the halfcourt line,” the report stated.
SQBR stands for “speed, quickness, balance or rhythm,” which in this case likely refers to Fox’s balance given he stepped backward to catch himself after contact by Suggs was made.
The report also indicated that an incorrect non-call took place on the possession prior when Cole Anthony’s layup gave Orlando a one-point lead. The NBA said Kings big man Domantas Sabonis made contact with “Anthony’s lower body as he defends the driving shot attempt.”
If Anthony had sunk the free throw, Orlando would have led by 2 points — instead of 1 — before Suggs fouled Fox.
Who’s to say what would have taken place next?
One thing, however, is clear. The Magic (42-29) still had multiple chances to win the game even after both the missed call on Sabonis and the correct call on Suggs were made.
Following Fox’s free throws, which put Sacramento (41-29) ahead by 1 with 21 seconds left, Anthony and Franz Wagner each missed from 3 as Orlando grabbed two offensive boards late. Anthony then drove to the paint but his layup wouldn’t fall either.
After Ellis added a free throw, Paolo Banchero couldn’t connect from beyond the arc as the final buzzer sounded and the Magic lost 109-107 at home.
“Stay composed,” Suggs said when asked what he could take away from Saturday’s loss. “I felt like I let the boys down in that aspect because we did have a chance to win. We had moments to continue to shift the momentum, to make a run.
“Personally, I allowed circumstances to take myself out of the game. So, learn from it, watch it, grow, keep pushing.”
Suggs, 22, didn’t want to use the youthfulness of the Magic’s roster as a reason for why the team lost. Orlando features the fifth-youngest roster in the NBA with an average age of 24.792.
“I don’t think anyone would fault anybody for using that as an excuse but I’ve played basketball for 20 years,” he said. “You know what I’m saying? This isn’t a new situation. There’s nothing different.
“I’ve just got to be better.”
Orlando’s first opportunity to respond comes Wednesday when it hosts the Warriors (36-33) at Kia Center (Bally Sports Florida, 7).
Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]
