Orlando Magic Losing Games at the Free Throw Line?

The Orlando Magic has been in its fair share of close games this season, as half of the teams games so far have been decided by five points or less.

In close games like these, one of the first stats to look at is the free throws. And so far this season, the Magic has been one of the worst teams at converting at the charity stripe.

The Magic is shooting 72.8% from the line so far this season, which ranks it at 25th in the NBA. Games can be won and lost at the free throw line, and so far this season, the Magic has experienced this a number of times.

The most notable being in the team's last game against the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Mexico City Game. The Magic ended up losing as a direct result from a go-ahead three by Dejounte Murray, but it was not just his shot that caused the Magic to lose. The Magic missed a total of 10 free throws over the course of the game, and the team ended up losing by only one point. If the Magic made just half of those missed free throws, the outcome might have been different.

All of this is not to say that the Magic are struggling at getting to the free throw line. This young roster is always fighting to the rim and drawing contact, and this has caused the team to be third in the league in free-throw attempts so far this season. If those chances at the charity stripe can be converted at a consistent rate, that could change a lot of games.

The Magic will have a chance to get back on track at the free-throw line when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks come to town tonight. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET from the Amway Center.