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From Orlando Sentinel

BOBCATS 99, MAGIC 93

Orlando Magic collapse in 2nd half against Charlotte

Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
January 17, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - It was certainly no way to finish the second half of a game. And definitely no way to finish the first half of a season.

The Orlando Magic left the visitor's dressing room wondering if they ever will be whole again.

They looked stunned and wounded after blowing a 19-point lead in a 99-93 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night, perhaps unsure what kind of team will now emerge over the final 41 games.

The Magic have not resembled the club that caught the NBA's fancy for a while, going 8-13 since their promising 16-4 start. Their road magic has even disappeared as they have lost four of their last five, although a 16-9 road record is highly commendable.

Coach Stan Van Gundy has talked about how his team might react when faced with genuine adversity. It has arrived with a capital "A."

Big, timely shots, boundless energy and a pool shark's confidence early in the season masked many flaws that are currently on display.

Against the Bobcats (15-23), it was the offense that imploded, with 19 turnovers chiefly costing them a chance to complete a four-game sweep of Charlotte. Every player who played had at least one miscue.

The Magic have to score, and score a lot, because their defense has been shaky, to be kind.

The Bobcats dominated the second half, outscoring the Magic 58-37. Orlando committed nine turnovers and made just 14 of 42 shots over the final two quarters.

"Our turnovers were mindless and mind-boggling," Van Gundy said. "We haven't been a real good team all year with leads. We had some defensive breakdowns, but our offense was just awful in the second half.

"When you have 19 turnovers, that is just too many possessions without a shot. Shooting is going to come and go. But staying disciplined to your game plan and taking care of the ball has to be consistent, and we are not doing that."

The Magic had whipped a dysfunctional Chicago Bulls team 24 hours earlier in Orlando, although they gave back most of a 28-point lead in the final period, a bad habit that perhaps carried over.

The Bobcats have been on a veritable roll, winning three of their past five that included a victory against Boston and overtime losses to Detroit and Cleveland. They almost always play hard, to the last whistle, even in front of their sparse crowds, the kind of scrappers that have given the Magic fits in the Dwight Howard Era.

Van Gundy has chided the Magic for their lack of toughness, but they melted again. "We either don't understand that or didn't stand up to it," he said.

The Bobcats wouldn't go away even after Hedo Turkoglu's jumper gave Orlando a 62-43 lead with nine minutes, 45 seconds left in the third quarter.

From then on, it really was all Gerald Wallace (36 points, 14 rebounds) and the Bobcats, who blitzed the Magic with a 32-13 run and tied it at 75 heading into the fourth.

Jason Richardson hit big shots and free throws at the end.

And instead of a rout, the Magic were left only with regret.

"They were more aggressive than us," said point guard Jameer Nelson, who left with a sore right foot and played just 16 minutes.

"We were satisfied with the lead and they were not satisfied with being down. Bottom line."

Howard had 24 points and 21 rebounds. Carlos Arroyo had 17 points off the bench, and Turkoglu, struggling with his shot lately, added 16.

"I think we got too relaxed in the second half," Howard said. "We didn't play like we did in the first half. That's been our story this season. We have to play hard for 48 minutes."


Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.

Related topic galleries: Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic, Gerald Wallace, Chicago Bulls, National Basketball Association, Jason Richardson, Stan Van Gundy

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