As the Magic learned the hard way against the Kings two games ago, the margin for error is small against playoff-caliber teams.
That proved to be true again Friday night inside Kia Center when the Clippers escaped with a 3-point victory to hand Orlando its third straight loss.
The Magic missed just 4 free throws all night but 3 came in the final 7 minutes.
Jamahl Mosley’s squad (42-31) turned the ball over 14 times but 2 took place in the closing minute.
Orlando shot 40.9% (9 of 22) from 3-point range in the first three quarters but 14.3% (1 of 7) in the fourth.
These small mistakes, combined with elite shot-making from the likes of Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard (29 points) and Paul George (12), meant the difference for Orlando in the 100-97 loss.
Instead of inching closer to No. 4 New York (44-29), which would mean homecourt advantage in a first-round playoff series, the Magic are now just one game in front of No. 6 Indiana (42-33).
Remaining inside the top 6 would allow Orlando to avoid the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Fortunately for the Magic, they get to quickly forget about Friday’s loss and return to Kia Center on Saturday night when Orlando hosts the Grizzlies (24-49), who sit near the bottom of the West (Bally Sports Florida, 7).
Late game of runs
Ten straight points from backup center Moe Wagner powered a 17-2 run for the Magic through the first half of the fourth quarter.
It resulted in Orlando’s largest lead of the night at 94-89 with 4:39 remaining left in the game.
Los Angeles responded immediately with 5 points in a row from George, who had 7 in the final frame.
The Clippers ended the game on an 11-3 run while forcing multiple turnovers from the Magic, who shot 1 of 7 from the floor in the final four minutes.
“The biggest thing we can learn is that we have to be able to close out better,” forward Paolo Banchero (23 points) said. “[We] just have to find a way to win.”
Banchero’s big 3rd quarter
Although Banchero led Orlando in scoring, it didn’t start out that way.
He shot 1 of 6 from the field for just 4 points in the first half after being held scoreless in the opening frame.
He erupted for 15 points in the third frame as the Magic’s defense settled down and forced multiple turnovers that led to dunks in transition for Banchero.
As the Magic forward attacked the basket and found a groove in the fastbreak, he was able to pick his spots on the floor, which included his first 3-pointer of the game from the right corner.
Free points
After missing 10 free throws in an 8-point loss to the Warriors on Wednesday, the Magic responded by shooting 11 of 15 from the charity stripe.
Banchero led the way by going 6 of 7 at the line.
Although the Magic missed their free throws when they mattered most in the fourth quarter, the ability to knock them down throughout the rest of the game still gave them a chance to win late, unlike Wednesday’s contest against Golden State.
Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]
