Orlando Magic find their mistakes are the ones holding them back

The Orlando Magic knew that to topple an elite Oklahoma City Thunder team they would need to reduce mistakes and play their game. They are still struggling to close that gap.

The Orlando Magic could have rolled over down 23 points early in the third quarter. Their best remaining player, Jalen Suggs, took a nasty fall and clutched his ankle late in the second quarter. He tried to play in the second half but left for good after about four minutes.

The Magic looked overwhelmed and overmatched. But they never quit.

And so through the third quarter, the Magic whittled down the lead getting it to within two points in the fourth quarter.

They had a chance. That is all anyone could ask for.

But this is an elite Oklahoma City Thunder team. A team with championship aspirations. Even when fully healthy, the margin for error is tiny. With the players the Magic have down, there are not a lot of room for mistakes.

So the question needs to be asked why the Magic found themselves in a 23-point deficit to begin with. It was because the Thunder's defense was suffocating. They are the top defense in the league for a reason and they pushed the Magic into mistakes early.

It was because the Magic's 105-99 loss on Thursday rests on the Magic's own mistakes. Mistakes that are proving far too costly with the team's thinning margin for error as injuries continue to pile up.