ATLANTA — The Magic committed a season-high 30 fouls, allowed the Hawks to take and make the most free throws they’ve given up to an opponent this year (34-for-42) and recorded at least 19 turnovers for a third time in their eighth game when they fell to 3-5 Tuesday night at State Farm Arena.
And as Orlando‘s mistakes piled up, its frustration only grew.
“When things aren’t going how you planned, how you’d like it, it’s natural for frustration to kick in,” Jalen Suggs said in the locker room after Jamahl Mosley‘s squad fell 127-112 at Atlanta. “That’s just human nature. It’s just, what do you do with the frustration? What do you do with the problem?
“We have to look ourselves in the mirror, both individually and as a unit, and continue to attack and assess our process,” he added.
Their process, however, could be a cause for their problems, rather than a solution.
Last year, Orlando shot a league-low 31.8% from 3-point range, committed the fifth-most fouls (20.1) and turned the ball over 14.2 times on a nightly basis (16th league-wide).
As the Magic have worked to implement a faster-paced offense with the additions of Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones, the team has shot 33.3% from 3 (21st in the NBA), committed 23.1 fouls (ninth-most) and has turned the ball 17 times per contest (eighth-most), according to NBA.com.
Those issues were on full display against the Hawks (4-4), who scored 21 points off 19 takeaways and led by as many as 25 points in their first home win of the season.
“A lot of it happened to be that we turned it over a couple times, the momentum shifted when they were getting downhill [for] early, easy baskets, and it took its toll on our defense,” Mosley said. “We weren’t able to generate any offense because of the turnovers as well as the fouls. There was no real rhythm to the game.”
Added Bane: “It’s just discipline. I don’t think our discipline is where it needs to be, really, on either end of the floor.”
AP Photo/Colin Hubbard
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, left, defends against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday night in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard/Associated Press)
Bane himself lacked discipline when he was ejected at the 5:24 mark of the third quarter, when he committed a foul that was upgraded to a flagrant one upon review and spiked the ball in the direction of Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu.
In a matter of moments, a 14-point deficit turned into a 20-point difference when Atlanta made three free throws and Nickeil Alexander-Walker sank a 3 from the left wing.
“Defensively, we were fouling and can’t keep guys in front [of us] … And then offensively, our spacing is leading to some turnovers, allowing them to get out and run in transition,” Bane said. “Some things we definitely can improve on.”
That improvement will have to take place quickly when the Magic return home to host the Celtics twice this weekend, first on Friday and then Sunday. Boston (3-5) doesn’t have the same firepower without All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum (right Achilles repair), but it still leads the league in 3-point attempts (47.8) and is tied-ninth in steals (9.1).
But ultimately, it’s up to the Magic to turn around an otherwise slow start to a season that was met with high expectations following a summer filled with change.
Through eight games, they’ve allowed opponents to score 20.3 points per night off turnovers (seventh-most in the NBA), 19.9 fastbreak points (tied-third most) and 55.8 points in the paint (fourth-most).
“We’ve just got to play some better basketball, to be honest,” Suggs said. “We’ve got to withstand runs, withstand some adversity, get it flowing, find our groove, find our swag. All of it’s just a little off right now.
“So, [it’s a] long season,” he added. “That’s what improvements are for, that’s why you stay with it. It’s a good part about having so many games to work with and play with, and it gives you time to figure these things out, to find your flow, rhythm and mesh. So, we’ve just got to stay at it, honestly.”
Despite the early results, the belief is still there.
“We’ll figure it out,” Suggs said. “It’s not a doubt in my mind that we won’t.”
Added Bane: “It’s the NBA. It’s a hard league to win in and you’ve got to come out and play with fire every night to give yourself a chance.”
Mosley’s message to the team was simple, with seven of Orlando’s next nine games at the Kia Center.
“Get home, regroup and take care of home — that’s the message.”
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Magic vs. Celtics, NBA Cup
When: 7, Friday, Kia Center
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida