ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Magic don’t need a reinvention so much as a reset when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves in their second game at the Kia Center.
After opening night against the Atlanta Hawks got away from them, Orlando knows exactly where the damage was done: on the defensive end, and in the little mistakes that piled up fast. A team built around that side of the floor cannot afford to surrender 132 points, and the Magic also can’t keep giving away possessions the way they did in that loss.
The turnovers came first. Orlando coughed it up 20 times against Atlanta, and that slump with the ball undercut everything else they tried to do. The Magic were in control enough to lead 19-9 going into the fourth quarter, but the giveaways stripped away that advantage and changed the night.
Carter pointed to the pressure the Hawks brought and the need for help handling it.
"I think defensively from them that they were physical, picking up full [court], from the guards and stuff," Carter said.
"So, I think for us bigs really anyone else, that would be a pressure release for them set some screens for them in the backcourt free them up a little bit. Just get us into our sets a little quicker.
I think we had 20 turnovers, 19, something like that. Hard to win a game when you don't win the possession battle.
I think our defense was pretty good, you know, we turned them over, but again it was the fouls."
That last part matters just as much. Orlando’s foul trouble gave Atlanta easy offense, especially in the second quarter, when the Magic committed nine fouls and sent the Hawks to the line for 12 makes on 14 attempts. That stretch opened the game up, with Atlanta winning the quarter 44-29 and taking control of the matchup.
The Magic did show life after halftime, but the hole they dug was already deep enough that Atlanta could keep them at arm’s length in the fourth quarter and finish the job by knocking down shots late.
Carter also said the Magic have to do a better job staying disciplined without the ball, especially on shots and rebounds.
"I started reaching around a little too much. On myself, fouling a three-point shooter," Carter said.
"Had some crucial calls down the stretch that we could have easily avoided by being in the stance and being ready. I think, clean up the whole boards.
You know, understanding late in games that teams are going to crash, show us more opportunities. So, clean that up.
I think get us guys a better chance, especially late in the game.
For Orlando, the encouraging part is that the fix is inside the room. The Magic believe they can sharpen things up on their own, and if they do that, they give themselves a real shot to respond against Minnesota.
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