Magic Drop 5th Straight as Dormant Offense Spoils Franz Wagner's Return

The Orlando Magic's losing streak is now five games after their worst offensive performance of the season — a 101-79 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Franz Wagner returned after a 20-game absence and scored 20 points.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the first quarter at Kia Center. / Mike Watters-Imagn Images

ORLANDO, Fla. – The return of Franz Wagner, sidelined nearly seven weeks because of injury, was expected to breathe life into a dormant Orlando Magic offense.

Instead, as players continue to get reacquainted, the Magic attack still looks lost. They struggled to hold onto the ball or create any consistent rhythm Thursday night in a 101-79 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

"There's going to be bumps as we go through this and get guys back into our lineup," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said postgame, responding to a question about what isn't clicking on the offensive end. "Now that is not an excuse for our spirit [and] our energy not being right from the beginning of the game. Again, it cannot be based on shots going in or out, because lately they have not been going in."

"It's hard to catch a rhythm with guys being out so much," rookie wing Tristan da Silva said. His 16 points off the bench were one of the few bright spots on an otherwise ugly night. "We just kind of [have] to stick together and figure something out."

Wagner, restricted to roughly 24 minutes of playing time, scored 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting.

"I thought he was trying to find his rhythm," Mosley said. "I thought he found a little groove ... I thought he did well for his first time back in this many weeks."

But Orlando's offense committed 22 turnovers — one shy of its season-high — and again struggled to make shots.

A closer look at the numbers reflects the lopsided result. The Magic:

• Missed 50 of 76 shots from the field and 10 of 31 free throws.
• Made only six of 25 three-point shots.
• Were outscored 58-30 in the paint, where Orlando shot just 15-of-39.

The Magic's 79 total points were their fewest this season and the third-lowest total among all NBA teams.

"Give Portland credit: They did a great job of switching things to try to stall us out. They packed the paint very well," Mosley said.

Individually, All-Star forward Paolo Banchero made one of his 14 shots and committed five turnovers against Portland's regular double teams.

"Paolo had been on a heck of a streak, averaging 25 a game since he had been back, and we know he's their guy that they're going to play through," Portland coach Chauncey Billups said postgame. "So we just wanted to make it tough ... we didn't think that he would have this type of night, but it happens. That's a rare night for him, that's an anomaly."

The Magic, now 23-23, have dropped five consecutive games for the second time this season. Each of the past five losses has been by at least 13 points.

Central Florida native Anfernee Simons scored a game-high 21 points, leading a group of five double-digit scorers for Portland.

Up Next

Orlando concludes their two-game homestand Saturday night against the Detroit Pistons. Tipoff is 7 p.m. ET.

Related Stories on the Orlando Magic

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