MEMPHIS, Tenn. _ This one might sting the Orlando Magic for awhile.
The Magic led by seven with 3:06 to play but managed just two points the rest of the way and fell 105-97 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night at FedEx Forum.
With the Heat's 125-104 loss to the Raptors, the Magic (31-37) had a chance to move into the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. Instead, their loss in Memphis keeps them in ninth, one game behind the Heat.
While his team beat the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, Magic coach Steve Clifford was not happy with how his team played defensively.
He got plenty of that after the first quarter on Sunday.
But when the Magic needed to lean on their offense for points down the stretch, they missed shots, turned the ball over or could only manage free throws.
The Magic went the final 6:18 without a field goal, and it wound up costing them.
Nikola Vucevic finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Magic.
Mike Conley scored 26 points to pace the Grizzlies, and his pull-up jumper with 14 seconds left all but iced the win.
The Magic trailed 100-97 at that point and turned the ball over on the ensuing possession.
After a Conley free throw made it 101-97, Terrence Ross missed a 3 and the Magic fouled. Clifford was then issued two technical fouls and was ejected.
He joined Magic swingman Evan Fournier in the locker room. Fournier was ejected early in the third quarter after getting hit with two technicals.
