"If this isn't rock bottom, what is?

The Orlando Magic completed a forgettable week Friday night, falling to the hapless New Orleans Hornets 93-67 on Friday night at New Orleans Arena.

Continuing to have trouble scoring even when not playing against the Boston Celtics, the Magic (12-7) are suddenly, desperately looking for answers after losing three of their last four games.

After two devastating losses during the week to the Celtics --- one an offensive brown-out, the other a monumental collapse --- the Magic expected an easier time against the Hornets. They came in at 3-15 and lugging a nine-game losing streak.

"It's the whole thing. We were awful…three worst losses we've had since I've been here over a matter of five days. It's tough to take," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.

"We were sitting at 11-4 and playing well. All of a sudden – other than the Indiana game --- we're falling apart."

Forward Earl Clark summed up an evening of horrid basketball, watching his fast-break dunk clang off the back of the rim as Hornets fans howled with laughter.

"We just didn't play. We laid down," shooting guard Jason Richardson said.

The Magic shot just 39.3 percent while allowing the Hornets to hit 50.6 percent. Orlando has now failed to score 20 points in each of the last six quarters.

They turned over the ball 23 times (for 28 Hornets points), played poorly on the defensive end and looked tired, out-hustled and out-played by the scrappy, rebuilding Hornets.

The Hornets obviously saw the Celtics apply physical and pressure defense, and did a good job imitating Boston without Boston's talent.

The home crowd had something to cheer, and rewarded the Hornets with a standing ovation late in the fourth quarter as the lead grew to 24. For their forlorn fans still missing Chris Paul, this was the Big Easy."