Anfernee Hardaway wanted to win, but even with his explosive performance, the Magic could only hold their own against the Lakers.
With O'Neal trying hard but playing inconsistently, and Kenny Anderson and Zhang Hao performing excellently, while the Lakers' role players were shooting inaccurately, Anfernee Hardaway managed to keep the team neck and neck with the Lakers.
When Zhang Hao got into a hot streak, the Magic were obviously no match.
After the timeout, Anfernee Hardaway tried to lead his teammates in a comeback, but their performance fell far short of the first half.
The Magic's defense became noticeably disorganized. Previously strong and tightly coordinated, they crumbled after trailing by 10 points. Anfernee Hardaway's hurried offensive choices failed to match their first-half success, making the defense anxious as well.
