Orlando Magic Grades: Oklahoma City Thunder 117, Orlando Magic 114
The Orlando Magic got some good performances from several individuals. But the inconsistent defense and poor late-game execution cost them the game.
149. 114. 38. Final. 117
The Orlando Magic met heartbreak yet again in Oklahoma City.
Victor Oladipo‘s go-ahead layup was blocked by Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant came down the other end without a timeout and drained a 3-pointer over Tobias Harris to deliver the Oklahoma City Thunder a 117-114 win at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday.
Orlando’s opportunity to get a win was lost on several plays. But it was Russell Westbrook who tied the game on an uncontested drive and layup and torched the Magic defense all game. The Magic’s lack of defense throughout the game was the concerning part for most of the night. The offense just masked it for a long time.
Still Orlando put itself in a position to win the game. The little plays it takes to win just were not there at the end despite all the good that led to it.
VICTOR OLADIPO. A-. <p>Victor Oladipo continues his stellar play since the calendar turned as he is continuing to look like the player the team and fans imagined he could be entering the season.</p><p>Oladipo was smart with his shots, got to the line and put in a lot of point. He scored 37 points, two off his career high, and made 13 of 19 shots, taking just five 3-pointers. He made all eight of his free throws — getting to the line eight times is good.</p><p>The Magic may have lost this game because they were trying to force him the ball too much at the end. And Oladipo had his turn on Westbrook with his own struggles. But overall, Oladipo played a solid game.</p>. G. Orlando Magic
C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC. C+. <p>In the last few years, it has become painfully obvious there are some problems with <strong><a href=
TOBIAS HARRIS. B. <p>Tobias Harris got the call on Kevin Durant for much of the night and did about as well as he could. He contested the final shot well and did his best to make things hard for Kevin Durant.</p><p>Durant did score 37 points but shot only 12 for 25. His issue at times was getting sucked in to the paint too much and leaving Durant open for three — Durant hit 6 of 12 from beyond the arc. But when Harris was set and guarding Durant one on one, Harris for the most part did a good job keeping Durant out of the paint and forcing him into difficult shots.</p><p>On offense, Harris did a good job moving without the ball, finding open space and attacking the gaps in Oklahoma City’s porous defense. He scored 15 points and added seven rebounds. Harris was very effective throughout the night.</p>. F. Orlando Magic
JASON SMITH. A. <p>The Magic do not ask a ton from <strong><a href=. F/C. Orlando Magic
3rd Western Conference. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER. B-. <p>The Oklahoma City Thunder were far from good in this game. The Orlando Magic were able to score just as easily as the Thunder were throughout. They committed a lot of turnovers and were generally sloppy.</p><p>As always, when the Thunder got the juggernaut rolling, there was very little the Magic can do. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were at the height of their powers scoring the ball. There was little help from others.</p><p>Westbrook alone though is able to will a team to a higher level. He scratched out rebounds and pushed the pace and got into the lane. The Magic had to adjust and focus just to slow him down and even that was not enough.</p><p>In the end, Oklahoma City showed its poise late. Something Orlando still lacks.</p>. 38-13