Orlando, FL— The Magic suffered a heartbreaking loss as Dejounte Murray hit an incredible mid-range jumper over Markelle Fultz as the clock expired, and Atlanta came out on top tonight 106-104.
This game didn’t come down to just that last possession, it was all the small and minor mistakes that led to the outcome of the game. A team that had too many whistles late that allowed Atlanta to get to the foul line as they converted on 20 of their 22 attempts. Orlando despite having a ton of great looks from deep shot an ugly 10 of 35 from behind the arc, and their six missed free throws could’ve very well changed the complexity of the entire game.
“Just a couple of shots didn’t fall, couple of fouls that went their way and, um, you know, they hit it tough for the ending.” Magic Point Guard Jalen Suggs postgame. “You know sometimes that’s what it takes to, you know, for another team to win.”
Like the first two contests between these teams this matchup went all the way down to the wire and the Magic just ultimately couldn’t come out on top. Paolo Banchero, despite shooting 8 of 25 from the field Paolo hit the tying three-point jumper on the right wing over Onyeka Okongwu with nine seconds remaining, but it was all for not as Murray went down the court and hit the game-winner.
Orlando did a great job for the most part on the defensive side of the ball limiting a high-powered Hawks offense to 106 points and just 32 percent from deep. Trae Young had a quiet night scoring the ball to his standards (18 points) but he had himself a performance as one of the best passing guards in the league as he finished with 12 assists. Dejounte Murray had an efficient 26 points on 11 of 18 shooting and he chipped in two steals defensively as well.
“I think we did a great job on them defensively from keeping them off the three-point line, which is where they strive.” Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley postgame. “I think we have to be a little bit more disciplined in the way in which we’re coming helping uphill, which allowed those lobs to Capela, allowed those lobs to Okungwu. We gotta be a little bit smarter there, but these are lessons we’re gonna continue to learn.”
Dejounte Murray had a lot of high praise for Coach Mosley and this Magic team after the game as he stated, “I got nothing but love and respect for their coach (Jamahl Mosley). I see the way he coached the whole 48 minutes every single night. They got a bunch of young talented guys– led by Paolo and Wagner.”
Wendell Carter Jr and Markelle Fultz continue to progress and get ramped up as they returned from injury just a few ago and slowly but surely their games are getting back into form. Wendell finished with 18 points, and five rebounds, and made three of his four shots from distance. Markelle Fultz despite some shooting slumps and questionable decision-making at times, you can see visually his confidence slowly coming back. Fultz in 30 minutes had 10 points, four rebounds, and did a nice job of getting downhill and finishing at the rim.
“I mean it feels good just to be back out there. Fortunately, I found my groove out physically, but, um, just to be out there with my teammates–helping them do whatever I can to help this team win.” Wendell Carter Jr on him getting back into the rhythm and flow of the game. “I got hurt just five games into the season. I never really been myself. I think these last, like, two or three games, I was starting to kind of get my swagger back.”
Orlando finished up their four-game road trip with just one lone win over the Knicks on Monday evening. The Magic will play host to the Philadelphia 76ers as they begin a quick three-game homestand.