The Orlando Magic ended a six-game losing streak on Thursday with a narrow win over the Sacramento Kings. However, they started a new losing streak on Sunday, suffering a significant 139-87 defeat to the Toronto Raptors.
The situation for the Magic worsened when the Raptors scored 31 consecutive points in the first two quarters. The Magic went nearly nine minutes without scoring. By the time they did, they were down by 25 points, leading to concerns about their playoff chances.
Magic’s defensive struggles
The Magic’s strong defensive play has been key to their success over the past three seasons. They ranked second in defensive rating in the last two seasons, but in recent weeks, they’ve dropped to the fifth-worst defense in the league.
During this 1-7 stretch, they allowed 130 points or more three times. On Sunday, despite missing two of their top scorers, the Raptors scored 139 points against them. Their starting players hit 30 of 48 shots and contributed 31 assists, with Scottie Barnes providing 15 and Jamal Shead with 10.
However, the Magic’s offense struggled even more on Sunday. They recorded 27 turnovers against just 20 assists and made 9 of 38 three-point attempts. Paolo Banchero, who had scored 30 or more points in three consecutive games, managed only nine points against the Raptors, along with five turnovers.