Magic’s Heartbreaking 4th Quarter Disintegration Against Hawks
The Orlando Magic faced a heartbreaking setback on Friday night, succumbing to the Atlanta Hawks with a final score of 111-107 at the Kia Center. The Magic, who held the lead for a significant portion of the game, found themselves on the wrong side of a dramatic fourth-quarter collapse that left players and fans alike in disbelief.
Late Game Drama Unfolds
As the clock ticked down, the Magic were in a favorable position, but the Hawks relentlessly chipped away at the deficit. With just three minutes remaining, Atlanta seized a five-point advantage. The Magic showed resilience, managing to tie the game at 107 with 54 seconds left, thanks to two clutch free throws from Wendell Carter Jr.
However, the Hawks’ Trae Young had other plans. He responded to the Magic’s surge with a deft driving bucket, regaining the lead for Atlanta. Jalen Suggs quickly countered with a layup, but the drama continued. With only 21 seconds left on the clock, Carter Jr. fouled Young while he was shooting, leading to two made free throws that put the Hawks up by two points once more.
The Magic had one last opportunity to either level the score or take the lead, but Paolo Banchero’s three-point attempt fell short, sealing the game in favor of the Hawks.
Missed Opportunities Haunt the Magic
Several factors contributed to the Magic’s disappointing defeat, but the glaring issue was their inefficiency from the free throw line. The team managed to convert only 24 of 37 attempts from the charity stripe. If they had capitalized on even half of those missed opportunities, the outcome could have been drastically different.
Despite the loss, the Magic’s starting lineup delivered a commendable performance, with all five starters finishing in double figures. Franz Wagner led the charge with 27 points, while Desmond Bane contributed 15. Suggs and Banchero each added 11 points, and Carter Jr. chipped in with 10.
On the other side, Young’s 25 points propelled the Hawks to victory, even with key players Zaccharie Risacher and Kristaps Porzingis sidelined. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 19 points, while Onyeka Okongwu scored 17. Mohamed Gueye’s impactful 30 minutes off the bench saw him score 13 points, and Jalen Johnson contributed 12.
Next Challenge for the Magic
With the sting of this loss still fresh, the Magic must regroup quickly as they prepare for their next challenge. They will take on the Chicago Bulls in a back-to-back matchup, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. ET at the Kia Center. The team will need to shake off this defeat and come back stronger to secure a much-needed win.
