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Magic vs. Grizzlies: Postgame Report

Dan Savage
Director of Digital News

By John Denton

Dec. 1, 2016

MEMPHIS – Owners of the top-five defense it hoped to be back in the summer when it assembled a cast of elite stoppers, the Orlando Magic proved most of Thursday that ``defense travels’’ even when their offense might occasionally sputter.

Defense certainly got the Magic a big lead on Thursday and it seemingly put them in position to capture a second stirring victory in a row. Then, the defense of Memphis guard Tony Allen – a player so synonymous for excellence on that end of the floor that he’s nicknamed ``First Team’’ for his annual spot on the NBA’s All-Defensive team – flipped the script on the night.

Orlando held a 14-point lead with 6:12 to play, but it saw the advantage evaporate in seemingly the blink of an eye when Allen created havoc with his defensive toughness. That allowed Memphis – a short-handed team that dressed just nine players – to get within one of the Magic four different times down the stretch.

When Marc Gasol drilled two go-ahead free throws and Elfrid Payton couldn’t get off a shot in the final seconds it meant Orlando had to stomach the bitter taste of a 95-94 loss at the hands of Memphis and Allen.

``We, as a team, let up off the pedal and they found a way to make plays and get back in the game,’’ said Magic forward Jeff Green, who scored 12 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, but he was one of six Magic players to turn the ball over in the final period. ``We’ve just got to protect the ball and you can’t be soft with the basketball and you have to still be aggressive. That’s what (Allen) has been doing his whole career. I’ve seen it firsthand and he changed the game.’’

Orlando led 84-71 with half of the fourth period to play and it seemed headed to its second straight stirring road victory. The Magic put themselves in that position by blocking 10 shots – none of them more impressive than when Bismack Biyombo stuffed Jarell Martin at the rim as Memphis was trying to get within one basket with 6 minutes to play. From there, the Magic’s defensive intensity spilled over to the offense and they seemed poised to coast to the victory.

However, Allen had five points, two steals and a rebound in final period. His play was so dominant that the Grizzlies (12-8) were a plus-15 in his six minutes on the floor in the fourth quarter alone. For the game, Allen had nine points, six rebounds and three steals.

``Tony Allen, credit his energy because he came in and cooled down Jeff Green,’’ Magic coach Frank Vogel said. ``(Green) was red-hot there for a while, but he made a lot of hustle plays to turn the game around. We fouled a 3-point shooter to help them start their run and we didn’t get any stops down the stretch.’’

After the go-ahead free throws by Gasol, Orlando (7-12) had one final chance to go back ahead and avoid the pain of blowing the big lead. However, it didn’t even get off a shot when Evan Fournier was smothered, two players passed on shot attempts and Payton threw the ball out of bounds.

``Everything about this loss is disappointing,’’ Vogel said.

The Magic allowed the Grizzlies to surge within one of the lead three different times late in the fourth quarter, but seemed poised to hold on. Orlando withstood each push, largely because of the brilliant play of Fournier, who finished with 28 points and four assists. Fournier made 11 of 14 shots, including a running, twisting layup with 2:24 to play and the Magic clinging to a one-point edge. Later, Fournier fed Nikola Vucevic for a dunk with 1:09 to play to keep the Magic in the lead.

``That one hurts, man. It hurts bad,’’ Fournier said. ``Listen, they just played more aggressive than us in the last 5 minutes. That’s how they got back into the game. Tony Allen changed the game, just being more aggressive and being in the passing lanes. They got easy baskets and the momentum changed.’’

Vucevic had a 3-point shot rattle around the rim and agonizingly fall out with 24.1 seconds remaining, giving Memphis a chance to win. The Grizzlies got the ball inbounds to Gasol, who drew contact from Bismack Biyombo and got to the free throw line for the winning points.

``We had a good lead and were playing really well and they had two big plays and made their run and we never recovered from it,’’ Vuevic said. ``They have a lot of people out, but Marc and Tony Allen stepped up for them at the end. We were unable to finish the game which is really unfortunate because we had a big lead with six minutes left. We could have pushed the lead higher.’’

Serge Ibaka (11 points and eight rebounds) had four blocks for the Magic, while Vucevic (18 points and 11 rebounds) added three blocks. Three other players had blocked shots as Orlando easily eclipsed its previous season high of eight blocks.

The Magic came into Thursday riding the momentum of their most complete performance of the season, winning 95-83 in San Antonio. Orlando held the Spurs to season lows in points, field goal percentage and 3-point accuracy – a performance that allowed it to rise to No. 5 in the NBA in defensive efficiency.

``We were up so much and playing so well,’’ Vucevic said. ``When you get so close and don’t finish the game off, it sucks. It’s unfortunate because it could have been two in a row and a great way to start the trip.’’

Gasol had 25 points and two 3-pointers, while Troy Daniels scored 19 points and drilled three 3-pointers off the bench.

Orlando appeared to have been catching Memphis at the right time. Not only were the Grizzlies playing on the second night of a back-to-back after losing 120-105 in Toronto on Wednesday, Memphis had just nine players available to play on Thursday. Mike Conley (fractured vertebrae), Vince Carter (hip strain), Chandler Parsons (bone bruise in knee), James Ennis III (calf strain) and Brandan Wright (ankle surgery) all missed the game with injuries, while standout power forward Zach Randolph (bereavement leave) was also out.

Vogel knew that Memphis’ injuries meant very little to the game, pointing out to his team that squads often respond when missing players. That has been the case three times before this season as Washington, New Orleans and Dallas gave the Magic fits despite being without stars John Wall, Anthony Davis and Dirk Nowitzki.

Orlando will continue its nine-night, five-game road trip on Friday night in Philadelphia against the young, but talented 76ers. The Magic will be playing for a second time in as many nights, while the Sixers have been off since Monday after Wednesday’s game was cancelled due to unsafe floor conditions at Wells Fargo Center. Orlando’s first victory of the season came in Philadelphia in the fourth game of the season – a 103-101 defeat of the Sixers.

``Forget it. Forget this game and move on,’’ Green said. ``We’ve got another game (on Friday). That’s the great thing about the NBA. You lose a heartbreaker, but tomorrow you have a chance to come out and redeem yourself. That’s what we’ve got to do.’’

After playing in Philadelphia, Orlando’s road trip continues with games in Detroit (Sunday) and Washington (Tuesday). The Magic will be back at the Amway Center on Wednesday to host the Boston Celtics.

Down a point at the half following a sluggish first 24 minutes, Orlando cranked up the defensive pressure in the third to build a lead as large as five points. The Magic smothered the Grizzlies to the tune of four of 18 shooting in the third period.

Ibaka had the play of the third quarter when he sized up a Troy Williams’ drive and swatted the shot attempt far into the crowd. Upon blocked the shot, Ibaka put his arms into the air in celebration and flashed thumbs down with both hands.

The game might have turned completely one-sided had the Magic been able to get going offensively themselves. Orlando made just six of 18 tries in the third, a factor that kept the game too close for comfort.

Orlando was sluggish on the offensive end and had problems with Memphis’ lesser-known players in a first half in which it trailed 50-49. The Magic shot the ball well enough early on (46.2 percent), but they were bothered by 11 turnovers.

Fournier has thrived since Vogel made the decision to put the ball in his hands more three games ago and Thursday night was no different. He made his all seven of his shots in the game’s first 24 minutes, including two 3-pointers, for 17 points. He also had three assists, meaning he accounted for nearly half of Orlando’s first-half offense.

None of that mattered at the end to Fournier, who had a difficult time fathoming how the Magic let a seemingly sure-fire victory slip through their hands.

``We didn’t have a good first quarter and we were sloppy offensively and defensively and we didn’t have the same focus,’’ Fournier said, comparing the game to Tuesday’s win in San Antonio. ``We played great between the second (quarter) and the last moments of the fourth quarter. That’s how we’ve got to play and we’ve got to be consistent. The NBA is so crazy that if you relax for two minutes. In two minutes, it’s a different game.’’

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