Magic's Mosley Calls for Consistency from Officials: 'I Just Don't Understand'

The Toronto Raptors shot 35 free throws to the Orlando Magic's 23 in a 114-113 win Tuesday. After the game, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley made clear his desires for more consistent officiating.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley motions to the court during the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Kia Center. | Mike Watters-Imagn Images

ORLANDO, Fla. — With a half-second to play and the Orlando Magic down by one, Jamahl Mosley drew up a play they know well.

Paolo Banchero, who had 22 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter, along with eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals, was the inbounder. Both Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Franz Wagner screened to free Wendell Carter Jr. and Banchero threw a pass toward the rim.

Carter appeared ready to leap for what might have been the game-winning tip-in, but he never had a chance. The ball hit the rim and bounced away and time ran out. And then things got complicated.

The game clock was started prematurely before any player touched the ball. Officials called for a jump ball at the middle circle and Orlando's 114-113 loss was sealed.

Recap: Raptors get last laugh as Magic drop 4th straight despite Banchero's 41

"We've worked on that a ton," Mosley said. "It's supposed to be right at the rim at 0.5 and he put it right at the rim, and then Orlando Robinson walks under Wendell Carter Jr. as it's happening.

"So you can do one of two things. You can say it hit the rim and the clock went off, or you can say it should be a foul because you're taking a man out of the air."

Wednesday, the NBA's last two minute report confirmed Mosley's gripe by admitting a missed loose ball foul that would've been called on Robinson. It also further twisted the knife by saying it missed an illegal screen that would've wiped Ja'Kobe Walter's game-winner.

More: L2M report admits two crucial missed calls in finish to Magic-Raptors

That was the symbolic cherry on top of a frustrating night for Mosley's Magic and their experience with officials Ben Taylor, J.T. Orr and John Conley.

Toronto, which averages 21.4 foul shots per game, attempted 35 of them Tuesday. Fourteen free throws came in the third quarter, when the Raptors used a 20-4 run to force the Magic to play from behind in the final 12 minutes.

In contrast, Orlando attempted 23 free throws (they average 23.4).

"It could get me [in trouble], but I just don't understand. I really don't," Mosley said. "I know how physical they are. I know how aggressive they are. I understand how they were grabbing and holding, and then we get the tic-tac fouls. That's where it becomes something that you have to think about, and I don't understand why.

"We were attacking the basket just the same. I mean, we were in the lane 31 times, they were there too, but us not getting the whistle ... (silence) I have to figure it out and we've got to keep looking at the film and seeing where it is and what it is and what it's not. Because I don't understand how a team as such shoots 35 free throws, and apparently the grabbing, the holding up above the lane is okay now, but it's not once you get downhill."

The Magic get to the line at the NBA's second-highest rate, but their struggles with fouling have put opponents there more frequently than any other team in the league.

The Magic moved to 2-9 in games this season when an opponent shoots 30 or more free throws. Across those 11 games, the Magic have shot more free throws than their opponent just twice — 32 to Brooklyn's 31 in a win on Dec. 1, and 42 to Toronto's 30 in Sunday's loss.

The Magic are 9-16 in games when they shoot fewer free throws than their opponent, 20-18 when they shoot equal or more attempts.

Defense is what the Magic pride themselves on first and foremost. Because offense is a struggle on most nights, Orlando relies on imposing itself physically to slow their opposition.

The Magic have earned a reputation for their tenacious style, and that doesn't necessarily carry a negative connotation.

"If you're watching the game, you're watching it being played physically on both ends of the floor," Mosley said.

But whether or not that's dictating the calls on the floor doesn't change the fact that the fourth-year coach desires for calls to be more equal. It should be pointed out that in the two-game series the Magic and Raptors each shot 65 free throws. Orlando made 53 to Toronto's 49.

"I don't mind the whistle," Mosley said. "I just want it to be the same way. I like physical, we like aggressive, we like being that way. That's our brand of basketball.

"I just want it to be consistent."

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