ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic suffered a crushing defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night to drop their fourth-straight game. Below are the key moments: 

A chance to end their losing streak and snap the Lakers’ winning streak was there for the taking for the Magic.  

Orlando led by five points with 50 seconds to play before allowing an Austin Reaves driving layup followed by Deandre Ayton converting a free throw to cut the deficit to 104-102.  

Subsequently, the Magic failed to get an offensive possession with five seconds left in the game when Jalen Suggs attempted to inbound to Paolo Banchero with LeBron James guarding Banchero. It led to both James and Banchero fighting for the ball before it caromed out of bounds. The officials determined that the ball would go to Los Angeles, which led Magic coach Jamahl Mosley to challenge the call. 

The referees determined the ball last touched Banchero — giving the Lakers possession with five seconds left.  

Initially, James tried to cut for a layup which was blocked by Banchero with three seconds remaining. The possession remained with the Lakers, and it led to a dagger 3-pointer by Luke Kennard at the top of the key with 0.6 left on the clock. 

“You have to do a better job of execution in a game defensively,” Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. said after scoring seven of his team’s 17 points in the fourth quarter. “It was two possessions. He [Banchero] was able to save the day for us on the one. 

“It was just a miscommunication, not being physical enough. So we could be able to switch. That's really about it. We just have to do a better job of that.” 

According to the pool report, there was not clear and conclusive evidence to overturn the on-court ruling. 

Long before Kennard’s fateful shot, Magic center Goga Bitadze and Lakers guard Luka Doncic were continuously taunting one another. The verbal battle between the two eventually reached a point in the third quarter when double technicals were issued to Doncic and Bitadze for their behavior.  

After the game, Doncic said Bitadze insulted his family in Serbian.  

“He said he would [expletive] my whole family,” Doncic said. 

Bitadze later denied the incident when speaking with ESPN and the Orlando Sentinel. 

“"I have all the respect for Luka and what he has done,” Bitadze said. “I really respect everybody's family. Where I come from, it's really sacred and we really respect each other's family. I would never directly say that." 

After things were going as well as they have all season during Orlando’s seven-game win streak, it now must find a way out of the current rut. For Carter Jr, the solution is simple.  

“Figure out how to win. Simple words, but that's all it is. That's all it's about right now. Get as many wins as possible. A night like tonight happens. It's a tough one, getting a win.” 

“But we move on. We'll look at it tomorrow as a team. I'm sure guys will look at it tonight.” 

With the loss, the Magic have fallen to eighth place in the Eastern Conference at 38-32; three spots below where they were just a week before. 

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