Magic tumble again in Texas By Jerry Brewer | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted April 7, 2003 HOUSTON -- After six days in Texas, where everything went wrong, the Orlando Magic were lucky enough to depart with their clothing and enough money to return home. Weary, wounded and winless, the Magic were to arrive in Orlando early this morning having lost their focus and intensity at the worst possible time. Houston controlled and then defeated Orlando 114-93 Sunday night at the Compaq Center. The Magic finished the Texas swing 0-3 and never really gave themselves a chance to win any of the games. They lost the three games by an average of 17.3 points, allowed triple digits in each contest and looked nothing like the confident team it had become. Orlando (39-38) is on a four-game losing streak for the first time this season. The Magic get two days to regroup before playing Toronto at TD Waterhouse Centre on Wednesday night. "It's a real frustrating time for this team," Tracy McGrady said. "Losing four in a crucial time like this? Everybody's supposed to be on the same page. Right now we're out of sync. We're not on the same page. I think we thought we already clinched a playoff spot, and we didn't. We're playing like [expletive]." You could shrug this road trip off as Western Conference dominance, but that still doesn't calm the concern. The Magic, who need a combination of three victories and Washington losses to clinch a playoff spot, are playing their worst basketball of the season. "We acted like it was time to go home instead of fighting," Coach Doc Rivers said. "This is the first night in years I thought we caved in." Injuries had a role. McGrady played with sore ribs, but he had 28 points in three quarters. He rested in the fourth because Houston led by 20 points. Forward Pat Garrity, who has a strained groin, is not moving well. Forward Drew Gooden played only 16 minutes on his injured right big toe and scored just two points. Yao Ming, who dominated the Magic in their first meeting, had a more subdued game this time. Still, he finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Cuttino Mobley led the Rockets with 23 points. Point guard Steve Francis added 21 points and seven rebounds. Eddie Griffin also scored 14 points for Houston (40-37), which is trying to catch Phoenix for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. "We all know what we can do," Francis said. "We know how we can play. It's just that we've got to be consistent." With the Magic's loss, the East finished a mind-boggling 5-40 on the road in Texas this season. Throughout this road trip, the size and overall talent level of Houston, Dallas and San Antonio was too much for Orlando. McGrady's injury against the Spurs on Tuesday changed the complexion of this trip. Still, three blowout losses, regardless of the situation, was a very poor showing for a team that expects to be in the playoffs. "Very disappointing," guard Darrell Armstrong said, his head down. "Very disappointing." The Magic's defense looked like it was in preseason form. The offense looked like it was in preseason form, for that matter. Rivers was also upset with his team's patience. Numerous times players went outside the offense when challenged. At one point in the first quarter, Rivers exclaimed: "Come on! Move the ball!" His words seemed to drift and blend with the rest of the hubbub in the arena. "We didn't have any energy from the jump," said center Steven Hunter, who had 11 points, his fourth straight game in double figures. "I hate to say it, but it's almost like our team gave up." Orlando had no fire, no desire. Throughout its struggles this season, this team has at least tried to compete, but not on this night. The veterans left shaking their heads. "We should have enough of a fire lit to compete, no matter what the situation is," Armstrong said. "Well, the fire went down. Really, it went out. This is the worst I've seen us play all year, with the trade or without the trade." Jerry Brewer can be reached at jbrewer2@orlandosentinel.com.
