Free throws and offensive rebounds were critical. Mosley dissects how missed opportunities and second chances cost the Magic Game 5.
On the deciding factors of Game 5:
"Free throws and rebounding. I don't think there's any other way to put it. You got to step up and knock them down. We missed 14 of them tonight and we gave them 14 in the first quarter. This game came down to offensive rebounds, second-chance points, and free throws."
On Paolo Banchero’s 45-point performance:
"I thought Paolo was aggressive as heck. He was trying to make the right plays at the right time—getting downhill, attacking the basket, and putting pressure on the rim. With bodies down, his ability to attack and keep us in the game was big time."
On the impact of early foul trouble:
"It had a lot of impact. You pick up two quick touch fouls and then you can't play as aggressive. But listen, it has nothing to do with the calls made or not made. We can control the box-outs, we can control the free-throw line rebounding, and we can control the 50/50 balls. We have to do something about the things we can control."
On correcting mistakes for Game 6:
"It’s just a focus level. This was a hard-fought game by both teams—very competitive, physical, and aggressive. It's the type of rivalry you like, but there are things we can control and those are the things we can clean up to get back on track."
On the rotation with Franz Wagner out:
"I thought guys did a great job stepping up. AB was good in his minutes—attacking the basket, getting downhill, and stepping into his shot with confidence while guarding Cade. They had guys step up and make big shots, but it comes back to us making free throws and cleaning up offensive rebounds."
On the team's resilience in their first close-out opportunity:
"Their resilience was great. It was a nine or 10-point game that went to 17 at one point, and we didn't rattle. We went into halftime down six despite missing nine free throws and giving up 10 offensive rebounds. If you're in that situation on the road, you'd take it, but we need to start taking care of the basketball and the box-outs."
On the importance of finishing possessions:
"I’m going to sound like a broken record: if you make your free throws and finish possessions, you give yourself a better chance. We didn't love the 50/50 balls in the beginning—they had seven offensive rebounds early. You have to stay the course regardless of what’s happening in the game."
On the mindset for returning home for Game 6:
"We have to play with a sense of urgency and take care of home in front of our fans with that energy. But we have to do the smart version of it. It’s not about hitting home runs; it’s about hitting singles all night long. That means doing the little things: the box-outs, the free throws, getting into our sets, and keeping them out of the paint in transition."
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