Magic Lose in Utah
Salt Lake City, UT — The Orlando Magic were unable to overcome the poor performances of some of their key players, like Paolo Banchero, and lost 113-99 to the Utah Jazz, who snapped an eight-game losing streak with the victory.
This loss marked a disappointing 2-0 season series sweep for the Utah Jazz over the Magic. The Jazz hold the worst record out West and this loss doesn’t inspire much faith in the Magic, especially after such a poor performance on both ends of the floor.
Injury Report Updates
The Magic were without Jalen Suggs (quad contusion) again tonight, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (rest) joined him on the sidelines. This caused the Magic to start Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva in their place tonight.
For the Jazz, just Cody Williams (ankle) and Taylor Hendricks (leg) sat out due to injury during the game, but both Patty Mills and Drew Eubanks stayed on the sidelines due to a trade that happened with the Clippers, which sent former Magic player Mohamed Bamba, PJ Tucker, a second-round pick, and cash to Utah.
Franz Wagner Shines Amidst Struggles
Franz Wagner put forth a valiant effort, leading the Magic with 37 points, including an impressive 18-of-20 from the free-throw line. However, his performance was a lone bright spot as the team collectively shot a poor 33.0% from the field and 22.0% from beyond the arc.
Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., and Jett Howard all played relatively badly, with Banchero managing just 3 points in the entire first half and finishing with an abysmal 9 points on 21.1% shooting. Carter and Howard also had tough outings, combining for just 11 points on 30% and 20% shooting percentages respectfully.
Jazz’s Multiple Double-Digit Scorers
The Jazz, on the other hand, showcased a balanced offensive effort, with six players scoring in double figures. Collin Sexton led the way with 22 points, while John Collins added 19 points on an uber-efficient 88.9% shooting. Lauri Markkanen contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Walker Kessler dominated the glass with 15 rebounds.
Utah’s shooting was solid, hitting about league average with 46.4% from the field and 40.0% from three-point range, which, despite being tame percentages it was still a huge challenge for the Magic to even come close to similar numbers.
Magic Outplayed by the Jazz
Orlando’s defense struggled to contain the Jazz’s multifaceted attack since Utah came out with so many different scoring options. The Magic’s defensive breakdowns were evident, as they failed to limit Utah’s rebounds, with the Jazz grabbing 51 boards compared to Orlando’s 43.
Despite forcing 16 turnovers, the Magic couldn’t capitalize on these opportunities, scoring just 10 points from these 16 different chances they had. To make matters worse, the Magic couldn’t even swing the rock since the Jazz played with great anticipation and Orlando ended up with just 19 assists as a team compared to Utah’s 26.
Half Way Through the Road Trip
This loss shows that some players still need to readjust and that there’s no need to panic for the Magic just yet, the players simply need to get back into shape after their injuries. As the Magic continue this road trip, the team will look to get these players back into tip-top shape in order to make sure they are playing at their highest level.
The Magic are now on a three-game losing streak and will have the opportunity to play against the Golden State Warriors and a struggling Stephen Curry Monday night at the Chase Center.