NBA Power Rankings: Magic Slipping After Losing Streak?

The Orlando Magic have lost two straight games after winning five in a row. Where does that put them in this week's power rankings?

Jeremy Brener | Mar 12, 2024

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - After winning five straight games, the Orlando Magic have cooled off with losses against the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.

It's the first time the Magic have lost consecutive games since late January, causing the team to slip from fourth place to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.

T.J. McConnell Gary Harris Pacers — Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

It also forced the team to fall back three spots in CBS Sports' power rankings. The team sits at No. 15 after landing at No. 12 last week.

"After beating up on the Hornets and Wizards, the Magic offense went arid, scoring just 74 points in a loss to the Knicks and 97 in a loss to Indiana -- which is like scoring 60 against a competent NBA defense," CBS Sports writes. "Franz Wagner averaged just 16 points for the week, while shooting 15% from 3-point range. That helps explain the drought."

Wagner and the rest of the team must get out of this slump if they want to fight for strong positioning in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The team plays nine of its next 10 games at home, providing an opportunity to really make a mark heading into the final stretch of the regular season schedule.

Magic 'Laid an Egg' vs. Pacers

The team returns to the court tomorrow night to host the Brooklyn Nets before heading north of the border on Friday to play the Toronto Raptors. The Magic and Raptors will then face off in a rematch back in Orlando on Sunday.

Published Mar 12, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.