No magic in Orlando for the Blazers

Sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and in the midst of a 12-game losing streak, the Orlando Magic looked to be the perfect opponent for the Trail Blazers on Sunday. Portland was coming off consecutive losses to the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, and seemed ready to get back on track against a reeling Magic squad.

But after a game in which the Magic shot 50 percent from the field and scored 60 points in the paint, Orlando walked off their home floor with a 110-104 victory, putting the Blazers below .500 with a week left before the all-star break.

LaMarcus Aldridge had another big game, scoring 25 points with six rebounds, and Nicolas Batum recorded 19 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome an inconsistent performance by the team overall. Leading Rookie of the Year candidate Damian Lillard had perhaps the worst game of his young career, going 1-of-16 from the field for four points and as many turnovers. The loss keeps Portland out of the playoff hunt for now, with the Rockets currently occupying the eighth spot in the Western Conference.

The Magic, on the other hand, got solid play from their starting lineup and their reserves. Orlando center Nikola Vucevic had a huge night, scoring 17 points and pulling down 19 rebounds, while shooting guard J.J. Redick contributed 22 points off the bench.

There are still plenty of games to play, but the Blazers will need to find a way to make some progress against a competitive conference in order to have a chance at the postseason. It is clear they have the drive to make it there, and the talent on the roster is gradually catching up to those ambitions. But there’s no time to waste—the race for the NBA playoffs is already underway.