Elfrid Payton controls the Orlando Magic’s fortunes in Oklahoma City

The Orlando Magic needed big plays from their point guard. They needed shots from their point guard. Elfrid Payton delivered, reminding how important he is.

There is still a little bit of doubt that enters everyone’s mind when Elfrid Payton pops out to the corner for a 3-pointer. No matter how open he is, hearts still skip a beat no matter how much the team wants him to shoot the ball and wants to have confidence.

The numbers suggest this worry is warranted — Payton is shooting a career-worst 40.2 percent from the floor and 18.2 percent from beyond the arc.

The Oklahoma City Thunder undoubtedly knew this. They have studied those same numbers. And they know the best way to neutralize the Orlando Magic is to cut off the head of their snake. Their point guard. They had to corral Payton in the nether world of going under screens and baiting him to shoot mid-range jumpers.

And then they had to leave him open and bait him into those low-percentage 3-pointers.

When the Thunder did those things in the fourth quarter Sunday, Payton made them pay. He got free on the right corner and hit a 3-pointer. The following possession he hit one from the left corner.

The two shots helped stave off Oklahoma City’s rally and give the Magic a one-point lead on each occasion. His confidence was growing.

And with just a minute to play, Payton hit another 3-pointer to bring the Magic to within one. It helped set up Serge Ibaka‘s dramatic game-winner in an 119-117 win over the Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Sunday.

Payton was absolutely critical to the win. He scored 23 points and on 10-for-19 shooting, making three of his seven 3-point attempts. He dished out nine assists to go with seven rebounds.

Russell Westbrook had another 40-point, gargantuan triple-double effort, but Payton met him almost step for step. At least, he did late in the game.

As has been the case throughout the last two seasons, the Magic go as Payton goes. And when he was good, as he was Sunday night, the Magic become a very dangerous team.

An aggressive Payton gets into the paint and collapses a defense without the threat of a shot. Just him being around the basket and drawing attention pulls defenders away from their man. For the Magic not having shooters, they need Payton driving and probing into the lane, something he had to do less of last year because of Scott Skiles‘ more structured offensive system.

Payton averaged 6.3 drives per game entering Sunday’s game, according to NBA.com Player Tracking statistics. He is not a big scorer (2.3 points per game) or passer in these situations (1.0 assists per game). Last year, he had 7.8 drives per game with 4.7 points and 0.8 assists per game on those drives.

NBA.com has not released the individual game drive numbers. It suggests how Payton, like so many other players on this team, is still figuring out his place and how to be himself within this new offense and team.But Payton was certainly much more active driving to the basket for his own shot — he hit a few nifty floaters and layups around the Thunder’s bigs and drove right at Russell Westbrook on numerous occasions.

But Payton was certainly much more active driving to the basket for his own shot Sunday. He hit a few nifty floaters and layups around the Thunder’s bigs and drove right at Russell Westbrook on numerous occasions.

The Magic offense was flowing like it should and can. The Magic did not score 119 points and shoot 53.5 percent including 11 for 24 from beyond the arc on a lark. They were aggressive attacking the basket and kicking out. They created open looks and ran an efficient, effective and competent offense.

Orlando used its defense getting stops to kickstart the offense and create fast break and secondary break opportunities.

This is where Payton can play at his best too. He is adept at attacking defenses in transition and driving to the basket with the defense struggling to get set. He can finish through contact and dish to the perimeter. It is in these transition and semi-transition plays that Payton reveals his true value.

When Payton gets past his man in the half court, as he repeatedly did to Westbrook in the first half especially, he can be that force that creates space for a Magic team desperate for it.

Then there are still the moments where Payton eases off the throttle. And it is here the Magic offense halts and stagnates.

The Thunder did this in the third quarter as they completed a 21-point comeback to make this a game throughout the fourth quarter.

Defenders would duck so far under screens, Payton would be dribbling and visibly thinking what to do next. He could not attack the mass of bodies near the basket, but he was still too hesitant to shoot the ball.

And the worst sin of this situation is that Payton was dribbling and waiting. With the Magic already without a “bail-out” player, standing around and waiting makes a small margin for error with the offense even smaller.

Frank Vogel noted postgame that during the Thunder’s 17-2 run that completely erased, Payton became a little too passive. He got baited into shots and baited into waiting too long.

Despite how great Payton played overall and the big shots he took and made, he was still a -8 for the game (-10 in that third quarter). There is still a lot for Payton to work on to turn games like this into blowouts. The team still lost a 21-point lead.

But Payton again flashed just how important he is to the Magic in the end. He showed exactly why he is still the Magic’s best bet on the roster to be their starting point guard.

When he is aggressive and attacking, he can take the defense’s attention without making a shot. And he has the skill to make the right pass and the right play to an open man or free him up.

And, even, make the big shot when needed.

Next: Serge Ibaka seeking return to Oklahoma City form

The Magic, as it has always been since the team entrusted him as the starting point guard, goes as Elfrid Payton goes. And Sunday, he was at his best.