Less than 24 hours after scoring a franchise file 150 factors in an enormous victory towards the defending Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City was defeated by the Orlando Magic 126-115 in Florida on Wednesday night. The loss drops the Thunder’s season file to 16-22.
After lacking final night time’s matchup towards the Celtics, famous person guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 33 factors, 4 assists, three rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block, going 17-for-18 from the free throw line in his return to motion. For the Magic, who final performed on December 30, rookie star Paolo Banchero scored 25 factors, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out seven assists.
Oklahoma City and Orlando went forwards and backwards for almost all of the primary quarter, buying and selling leads till an 11-0 run by the Magic gave Orlando a 24-17 lead with two minutes left in the primary. In the waning seconds of the opening quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander floated by way of the air and completed a formidable layup whereas drawing the foul.
The Thunder star would knock down the following free throw, bringing the primary body to a detailed with the Magic main 31-28. SGA completed the quarter with 11 factors and one block, going 5-of-5 from the charity stripe.
Orlando opened the second interval on a 7-0 run, setting the tone for the rest of the quarter. With simply over three minutes left in the half, OKC trailed the Magic by 17.
Eight triples in the primary half helped the Thunder reduce Orlando’s result in 63-53 behind a 9-2 run late in the second quarter. Orlando went on a 7-0 run to shut out the half, heading into the break with a 17 level benefit over OKC.
At halftime, Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey had been the one Oklahoma City gamers in double figures, with SGA scoring 13 and the 19-year-old Australian pitching in 10 factors.
Already with out massive males Aleksej Pokusevski and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, rookie heart Jaylin Williams left the sport early in the third quarter after stepping on the foot of a defender whereas barrelling down the lane. This left the already shorthanded Thunder with solely Mike Muscala to play in the frontcourt.
Without Williams on the courtroom, OKC continued to fall behind, trailing the Magic by 22 factors simply 5 minutes into the second half. Oklahoma City clawed again behind 11 third quarter factors from Isaiah Joe, reducing the Magic result in 95-88 heading into the ultimate body.
Midway by way of the fourth quarter, a transition 3-pointer from Orlando massive man Mo Bamba gave the Magic a double-digit lead. With lower than 5 minutes left in the sport, the Thunder trailed 113-98.
OKC fought till the ultimate whistle, however was unable to muster a comeback, in the end falling 126-115.
The Thunder take the courtroom once more on Friday, January 6 towards the Washington Wizards at 7 P.M. CT in Oklahoma City.
Want to hitch the dialogue? Like SI Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to remain updated on all the most recent Thunder news. You may also meet the team behind the protection.
submit credit score to Source link