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Magic vs. Blazers: Postgame Report

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By John Denton
Feb. 23, 2017

ORLANDO – Their season a major disappointment much of the way so far, Frank Vogel gathered his Orlando Magic around him after a recent practice and told the players there was still plenty left to play for.

Not only would the 24 games remaining be about trying to cobble together a late-season run at somehow salvaging the season, it would also be about constructing a foundation from which the Magic can build going forward. Now, Vogel stressed, is the time to start ``learning how to win’’ and developing the kind of ``winning habits’’ that the franchise needs going forward.

Clearly, the Magic still have plenty left to learn in those two departments to avoid frittering away games like they did once again on Thursday night.

Up as much as 14 points in the third quarter and seemingly in command with an 11-point edge and nine minutes left to play, the Magic let a winnable game slip through their fingers as Damian Lillard heated up late in a 112-103 Portland victory at the Amway Center.

``Up nine or whatever we were in the fourth quarter, at home, you should win that game,’’ Vogel fumed afterward. ``That’s actually exactly what I’m talking about (referring to learning how to win). You’ve got to put together a complete game, and in certain situations, you’ve got to step on an opponent when you’ve got them down. You’ve got to make those plays when you’re up and we didn’t do that tonight.

``That’s been the problem with our organization, our franchise and our team,’’ Vogel continued. ``We’ve got to figure this out and figure out how to make those (winning) plays.’’

A crowd of 17,487 looked on helplessly as Lillard scored 17 of his game-high 33 points in the fourth quarter to key a late rally that led the Trail Blazers (24-33) past the Magic (21-38).

Orlando was up 91-80 with 9:07 remaining and seemingly on its way to a much-needed victory in the first game after the break for the NBA All-Star Game. However, Lillard jump-started Portland with two free throws and scored 12 points in a game-turning 23-6 spurt that ruined the Magic’s night.

Portland outscored the Magic 35-18 in the fourth quarter to steal the victory and split the season series. Lillard, who drilled 12 of 23 shots in the game, had three of his four 3-pointers in the final quarter. The former all-star had one fewer point in the fourth quarter (17) than the Magic (18) did over the final 12 minutes.

``We were in control most of the game – the whole game, basically – and we let the rope go in the last 5 or 6 minutes,’’ said Magic forward Jeff Green, who had eight points, four rebounds and four assists off the bench. ``Games are won in the fourth quarter on the defensive end and we let this one go.’’

The Magic got within 103-100 and 105-103, but former Orlando forward Maurice Harkless (12 points and six rebounds) burned his former team with a layup and a deep 3-pointer.

``We didn’t do a good job of closing out the game,’’ said Magic center Nikola Vucevic, who scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds. ``Defensively, we let them get what they wanted and offensively we didn’t do a good job of getting good looks. We took some quick shots and there were a lot of bad decisions to finish the game. We pretty much gave the game away that way.’’

Thursday’s game was the Magic debut for Terrence Ross, the versatile guard whom the squad acquired last week in a trade with the Toronto Raptors for Serge Ibaka. A reserve in 54 games this season with the Raptors, Ross got the start on Thursday and gave the Magic 13 points and five rebounds in 33 minutes. He didn’t shoot the ball well at all (four of 17), but he buried two 3-pointers and his first Magic points came when he knocked down three free throws after being fouled on a 25-foot shot.

It was Ross’ 3-pointer – set up by a jarring screen from center Bismack Biyombo – that gave Orlando the 11-point lead with 9:07 left to play. The night seemed to be shaping up as a feel-good win for Ross is his first game wearing Magic pinstripes, but it quickly turned around when Lillard and the Blazers heated up down the stretch.

``Especially when you have a lead like that you don’t want to give them any steam to get going. They took off and we made a couple of slip-ups in the fourth,’’ Ross said. ``We had some communication lapses and mental lapses and there were things that we’ve got to tighten up.’’

Evan Fournier chipped in 20 points, while Mario Hezonja made his first four shots and finished with 10 points.
C.J. McCollum chipped in 22 points for Portland, which made 50.6 percent of its shots and nine of 19 3-point shots. By comparison, the Magic shot just 39.5 percent from the floor and made only seven of 22 3-pointers.

``You just feel like you’re going to will your team to a victory,’’ Lillard said of his strong finish. ``It couldn’t have come at a better time. Over the break, I took a lot of time to myself. … That allows you to come back fresh mentally and physically.’’

Vogel said whether the Magic fight their way back into the playoff race or not, the focus the rest of the way must be about establishing a culture of winning. As Vogel was reminded again on Thursday when the Magic got tight offensively and let down their guard defensively in the fourth quarter, they still have lots of room to grow in that area.

``As a coach, you worry about one thing, and that’s getting a group of guys that haven’t won in five years to learn how to win,’’ Vogel said. ``As a coach, you worry about getting a group guys to learn how to win and play winning basketball. I think with the way the last five years have gone here, that’s the most important thing for our franchise.’’

The Magic will be back at the Amway Center on Saturday night when they host the Southeast Division rival Atlanta Hawks. The Magic won in Atlanta early in the season, but the Hawks have since won the two most recent meetings.

Up nine at the half, the Magic wobbled a bit in the third period to allow the Blazers to get within 71-68 following an 11-0 run. However, Orlando steadied itself in the period and used a D.J. Augustin 3-pointer in the final seconds to build the lead back to 85-77 by the start of the fourth.

Orlando made 11 of 19 shots in the third to hold onto the lead.

Orlando led 55-46 at the half thanks to a well-balanced offense and an opportunistic defense. Five Magic players had at least six points in the first half and Orlando forced 15 first-half turnovers, converting those errors into 20 points.

Ross missed his first three shots before scoring his first Magic points when McCollum pushed up on him and he drilled all three of his free throws. Seconds later, Ross got his first basket with Orlando by running around a Biyombo screen and drilling a 3-pointer from the right wing. In addition to scoring six points, Ross had one assist that led to a dunk for Gordon. He easily could have three or four first-half assists had Vucevic not been fouled after being set up perfectly following the passing of the driving guard.

Ross wanted to win his first game in Orlando and most of the night it looked like he would do just that. But the poor finish ruined what could have been a strong start. His five years of experience in NBA has taught him that you must quickly move on – both from successes and failures. It’s a lesson that the Magic have gotten all too familiar with trying to learn.

``You’ve just got to keep playing, stay positive and play hard and tough,’’ Ross said. ``You’ve got to flush this out of your system and move forward because you can’t dwell too much on the bad stuff. We’ve got to keep our heads up and stay positive and eventually we’ll get the hang of this.’’

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