CHICAGO – The Orlando Magic built a 20-point lead but then lost it before ultimately falling to the Chicago Bulls 102-99 in a fourth quarter filled with misfires.

On the Magic’s second-to-last possession, Jalen Suggs’ turnaround jumper failed – the team’s 18th miss in 22 shots in the final period. Orlando scored 12 points in the quarter and just 37 in the second half, missing the first of five road trip games.

But according to Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, that game was lost before it was pointless in the fourth quarter.

“It wasn’t at the end of the track,” Mosley said. “It was the second and third quarters. Two 34-point quarters (when) you hang your hat on defense won’t be enough.”

In response to the next two questions, Mosley repeated the same point three more times. The Magic got off to a flying start, moving the ball offensively and sitting in coverage on the other end. The defense led to a slight offense.

The Magic led by 15 after the first quarter and 48:28 at one point in the second quarter.

But they let their advantage slip away. Forward Jonathan Isaac said the Magic were a little worn out after the strong start and faded as the game went on. Fatigue certainly played a role, as he, Mosley and Paolo Banchero all pointed out, but Orlando is not naive to what happened

“That’s just not us. Not us,” Isaac said of the midfield defensive performance. “We are a defensive-minded team and when the shots aren’t falling it’s difficult to concentrate on defense. When they score a few shots, it’s difficult to regain focus.”

The magician’s composure was shaken. They were down 27-9 in the first eight minutes of the second half.

“I think we settled too much in the second half, myself included,” said Paolo Banchero. “Too many jumpers as a team didn’t attack the paint, but to their credit they did a good job of blocking and stuffing the ball.” Gaps in the second half.

Banchero again led the Magic with 31 points, seven rebounds and four assists, becoming the third player in Orlando franchise history to score more than 80 points in consecutive games (Tracy McGrady 12 times, Shaquille O’Neal twice).

Jalen Suggs had 17 points and Wendell Carter Jr. had 14 points and seven boards. Those three were the Magic’s only double-digit scorers.

Franz Wagner, still battling an illness, left the game in the fourth quarter and did not return. Isaac, playing his first game back from a three-game injury, gave insight into Carter Jr.’s battle with injury. The Magic center told reporters after the game that he “had better days” and needed to “find ways to rest, recover and be ready for Friday.”

With four more opponents waiting, Orlando can’t afford to miss this particular defeat – at least not for too long.

But this game will sting a little now because it was a game Orlando could have won both before and after their troubles. Considering the East rankings, it could hurt down the line later on.

Whatever the case, the magic needs to flush this one out – and quickly.

“(We have) a few people hurt right now, a few people sick,” Banchero said. “But I can’t make too many excuses. This is the first game of a tough road trip, so we can’t lie down. We have to figure it out and move on to the next thing.”

Orlando’s five-game road trip makes its second stop Friday night in Cleveland. The Magic and Cavaliers are scheduled to square off at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Consequences ‘Orlando Magic on SI‘ on Facebook and like our page. Follow Magic Beat reporter Mason Williams on Twitter/X @mvsonwilliams. Also bookmark ours Homepage This way you never miss a story.