Orlando Magic Collapses in 2nd Half, Lose vs. Dallas Mavericks

After losing a 13-point lead to the Dallas Mavericks, Jamahl Mosley outlined the Orlando Magic's struggles.

The Orlando Magic dropped its third loss of the season to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, 117-102. Orlando led by 13 going into the half before scoring a measly 36 points in the last two quarters, allowing Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Tim Hardaway Jr. to all score more than 20 points.

To Orlando’s credit, Paolo Banchero seems to be returning to form after a rough start to the season. The sophomore forward scored a team-high 22 points in the loss, bringing his season average to 18.1 points.

While there were some bright sides to the game–Banchero’s performance and Anthony Black’s efficiency in his second career start–the reality is that this was a winnable game, especially with the halftime lead the Magic built.

In two career starts, Anthony Black is averaging 9.5 points and two assists.  / Mike Watters-USA Today Sports

After the game, coach Jamahl Mosley tried to explain the loss without being too hard on his young team.

“We didn’t come out with the same amount of pop in that third quarter, second half,” he said after the loss. “They were able to put their foot on the gas, and we allowed shot-making or missing to impact our defense, which we know that’s not who we are. Whether we are making or missing shots, our defense has to sit down and guard.”

One way to quell opponents’ shot-making is to bear down on defense, which is something the Magic have emphasized a lot this season. So far that has worked, as Orlando allows the third-fewest points across the league. The return of Jonathan Isaac–arguably the best defender on the roster–is paramount to long-term success. Isaac has been battling hamstring soreness all season and is yet to play more than 15 minutes a game, but as the season wears on his impact will be felt.

All in all, the Magic has been off to a solid start, especially considering their youth. That being said, the team has to close when they have a lead, something that Mosley will undoubtedly emphasize moving forward.