The Orlando Magic’s 117-113 Thursday residence loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers had penalties that impacted their very own probabilities of qualifying for postseason play.
With the defeat, the Magic (34-45) have been eradicated from contending for a spot within the play-in event.
The Magic have been 4 video games behind the Chicago Bulls for the No. 10 seed within the East coming into Thursday and Orlando’s “magic” quantity was one — which means they’d be eradicated from postseason rivalry with the Bulls’ subsequent win or the Magic’s subsequent loss.
Orlando’s defeat got here first.
“[This] sucks,” Markelle Fultz mentioned. “This is what you live for. You want to play playoff basketball. You want to play around this time.”
The Nos. 7-10 seeds in every convention compete within the play-in event for the Nos. 7 and eight spots within the playoffs.
The Magic have been the final staff within the East exterior of the play-in to be eradicated.
For them, enjoying in a late-season recreation that mattered is an indication of they’re “leveling up” — their mantra because the finish of final season.
“We’ve asked these guys to play meaningful basketball and our best basketball around this time,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned pregame. “And not just for this moment, but for going forward. Regardless of whatever happens in each game, we want to be playing our best basketball.”
The Magic entered Tuesday winners in 5 of their final six video games and 6 of the final eight.
Their defensive score (factors allowed per 100 possessions) of 107.2 since March 18 has been the league’s third-best mark solely behind the New Orleans Pelicans (103.6) and Boston Celtics (106.9).
Orlando’s 25.8 fourth-quarter web score (level differential per 100 possessions) throughout that stretch has been the league’s greatest mark.
“We’ve talked about hanging our hat on the defensive end,” Mosley mentioned. “Being able to sit down and guard in the right moments. A couple of those games didn’t start out the way we wanted them to, but defensively towards the fourth quarter we’ve really sat down and guarded.”
The Magic stepped up defensively late, solely permitting 24 factors within the fourth, however they didn’t make the photographs they wanted down the stretch.
Paolo Banchero (20 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists) missed a shot on the rim with Orlando trailing 115-111 with 41.3 seconds left.
The Magic bought the defensive cease on the Cavaliers’ ensuing possession however Fultz (23 factors, 8 assists) missed a jumper from his spot within the midrange with 10 seconds remaining.
The Cavaliers (50-30) have been enjoying for one thing, too. They clinched the No. 4 seed within the East with the victory.
Donovan Mitchell, who averaged 42 factors over his final three video games, scored a game-high 43 factors towards the Magic.
He made a pair of late jumpers with lower than two minutes remaining to provide Cleveland a 115-109 lead with 1:19 left.
Darius Garland added 16 factors and 10 assists.
“I’m proud of these guys for how they battled. That’s the fourth seed in the East,” Mosley mentioned. “We held our own and more so and our guys have to understand and believe what we’re capable of doing and we’ll continue to do that moving forward.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com