Magic keep giving away possessions, and opponents keep cashing in

The Magic don’t need every opponent to play great defense. Too often, they’re doing enough damage themselves.

Orlando entered Thursday with the NBA’s fourth-worst turnover rate, then committed 25 against a Suns team that ranked last in defensive rating. Phoenix turned those mistakes into 36 points and handed the Magic their third straight loss.

That’s more than a bad night with the ball. It’s an existing problem getting worse.

As Matt Hanifan of Sports Illustrated points out⁠, the Suns have remained effective at forcing turnovers despite their broader defensive struggles. The Magic gave them plenty to work with, including unforced errors.

For a team trying to establish itself in the East, that’s a difficult habit to carry. Opponents don’t have to defend an entire possession when the ball is coming back before a shot goes up.

It also reduces the value of things Orlando does well.

Wendell Carter Jr. grabbed 13 rebounds Thursday, while Franz Wagner added eight and Anthony Black had seven. The Magic collected 15 offensive rebounds and finished with a 15-rebound advantage.

That should give a team some room for missed shots. Instead, they surrendered extra opportunities through turnovers and compounded the problem by missing 11 free throws.

The result was a 117-104 loss in a game they trailed by as many as 30.

One game won’t define the Magic. But their ball security was already a concern before they arrived in Phoenix, and a four-game West Coast trip leaves little room to keep repeating it.

Orlando can look for better shooting and more consistent offense. Getting a shot up in the first place would help.