Magic's late-season slide could drop them into play-in

Orlando lost badly to a Milwaukee Bucks team missing Giannis Antetokounmpo Wednesday night, 117-99. The loss dropped them to fifth place in the Eastern Conference, with the same record as the sixth-place Indiana Pacers and one game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers.

But the Magic still have to play the Sixers on Friday and face the Bucks again Sunday. If the Sixers beat them, they'll be in the driver's seat to avoid the play-in, thanks to a six-game winning streak and the return of Joel Embiid. Meanwhile the Magic could still fall past the Miami Heat and lose their Southeast Division title if they drop both their remaining games.

What happened to the Magic? Their normally stellar defense has fallen off. They gave up 124 points to the Charlotte Hornets, 118 points to the Houston Rockets and 117 to the Bucks. Orlando simply doesn't have enough offensive firepower beyond Paolo Banchero to compete when it isn't locking teams down.

There are a couple of positive signs for Orlando. While the Magic have lost three of four, and six of their last 10 games, the Heat have won six of their last 10 games, missing a golden opportunity. The Bucks could clinch the No. 2 seed before Sunday, which would likely mean they'd rest their starters. Fourth-place Cleveland and sixth-place Indiana play Friday, and one of them has to lose.

But if the Magic lose to the 76ers, it's time to worry about making the playoffs at all. They could go from getting a week off before hosting a first-round series to fighting for their playoff lives by Tuesday. After a resurgent season, it's not the way Orlando wanted to return to the playoffs.