Orlando Magic: 3 takeaways from Game 4 loss vs. Raptors

ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 21: Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic helps Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic to his feet against the Toronto Raptors during Game Four of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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3. Second quarter struggles

Orlando started off Game 4 quite well, down just two after one quarter after having relinquished a lead held for a good chunk of time. The Magic would the go on to be outscored 30-14, heading into halftime down 18 and putting the game firmly out of reach.

They shot just 1-for-7 from downtown while subsequently allowing Toronto to hit six of its 10 looks from beyond the arc. It was the ultimate imbalanced effort, one where nothing seemed to be working at either end for Orlando.

A double-digit halftime deficit isn’t anything to necessarily panic over. Plenty of teams in playoffs past have managed to claw their way back as the game ticks closer to its end. The Magic, though, are going up against an elite Raptors squad that posted the second-most wins in the entire NBA during the regular season.

Rarely does Toronto find itself vulnerable at either end of the floor. This is part of the reason some have them pegged for a trip to the NBA Finals. This does not exactly leave Orlando much room to work with when tasked with climbing back up the mountain it so graciously stumbled down.

The Magic are a scrappy underdog nobody thought would make it to this point in the season. Part of that mentality is due to their lack of top-level talent capable of carrying them through their inevitable tough stretches, such as the one suffered in Game 4.

It is for that reason Orlando can’t afford such a large deficit to occur in Game 5 or any other moving forward. The roster is more so built to get by in the game’s final seconds, not fight its way back from a daunting deficit.