Magic's turnovers and missed free throws sink them in 117-104 loss at Suns
Orlando lost its third straight game as turnovers, missed free throws and cold three-point shooting undermined its four-game road trip opener in Phoenix.
The Orlando Magic lost 117-104 to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday at Mortgage Matchup Center, dropping their third straight game and falling to 2-6 on the season. Phoenix, playing the second night of a back-to-back, ended a four-game losing streak of its own and improved to 2-5. The loss opened a four-game Magic road trip.
Before the game, Magic coach Sean Sweeney said he wanted to see better organization from his team on both ends of the floor. Phoenix entered the night with the worst defensive rating in the NBA, at 124.5 according to NBA.com, but Orlando struggled to take advantage of that, and the Suns set the tone early.
Too many turnovers
All five Orlando starters committed at least two turnovers through the first three quarters. Anthony Black had five, and Franz Wagner committed six despite recording a career-high 15 assists. Jase Richardson and Tristan da Silva each had three, and Desmond Bane had two. Wendell Carter Jr. scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds but also had three turnovers.
Phoenix turned those mistakes into points. The Suns scored 36 points off 25 Orlando turnovers, the most the Magic have given up this season. It was also the third time in eight games that Orlando committed at least 20 turnovers.
Missed chances at the line
The Magic reached the free-throw line 20 times in the first half alone but missed nine of those attempts. Orlando trailed 63-51 at halftime. Wagner missed three free throws, Bane and Black each missed one, and reserve center Goga Bitadze missed four.
Phoenix made 10 of 13 free throws, including its first 10 attempts. Devin Booker led the Suns with 30 points and eight assists, and he scored 23 of them in the first half. Dillon Brooks added 24 points, Miles Bridges had 18 and Luke Kennard scored 12.
Cold shooting from deep
Orlando also struggled from beyond the arc. The Magic finished 13 of 38 from three-point range, a 34 percent clip. Bane was 3 of 9 from distance, and da Silva went 4 of 12. Phoenix shot 17 of 34 from deep, or 50 percent, with Booker hitting four three-pointers.
Orlando will continue its road trip on Saturday night at Golden State, where it will face the Warriors at Chase Center. The Magic remain without Paolo Banchero, who is dealing with a right high ankle sprain, and Jalen Suggs, who has a right knee bone bruise.