Aaron Gordon and the Orlando Magic (finally) refuse to lose

Aaron Gordon poured in another 40 points to break a nine-game losing streak. The will he and his team displayed was finally the stand the team needed.

Aaron Gordon had not come out the entire third quarter. He did not come out for his usual early fourth quarter breather too. The Orlando Magic needed him and his scoring — yes, his scoring — and his overall energy. They needed him and his aggressiveness. They needed him and his will.

Throughout the nine-game losing streak, the problem for the Magic largely resided in that lack of will. That deep sigh that comes when a team is about to put on a big run.

There was a little bit of that deep sigh when Russell Westbrook started to get cranking when the Orlando Magic opened up a 20-point lead on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fourth quarter on Wednesday.

But, at long last, the Magic were not going to give into those feelings. They finally put their foot down. They finally had someone step up and do so. They finally played with the togetherness they would need to win.

And in the latest edition of who takes their star turn for this developing Magic, Gordon became that man. Building his lore up from a season of strong games, Gordon made his biggest statement of the year. And the biggest statement for his team.

"“I was just aggressive taking opportunities,” Gordon said. “I wasn’t passing anything up. If the open pass presented itself, I was making the right play. I was making the right read.”"

Gordon finished the game with 40 points and 15 rebounds, dominating on both ends of the floor. He shot 13 for 23 from the floor, hitting six of his 12 3-pointers. He checked Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, forcing them into tough shots. The two went a combined 12 for 33.

Gordon delivered even after missing his first three shots, his confidence was just waiting for a chance to brim and spill over. Coach Frank Vogel gave him encouragement and Gordon went from there.

He attacked aggressively and quickly off the dribble. He was never indecisive, watching the matchup and going after his defensive matchup. But everything seemed under control and unforced.

Orlando Magic

More importantly, Gordon made those gritty and tough plays the Magic have lacked. When Orlando has needed someone to play with a killer instinct and get on somebody’s back, Gordon was that guy to do so. He was going to make sure the losing streak did not reach 10.

That might be why Vogel’s gut told him to stick with Gordon for the entire second half. Gordon delivered. His five points to open the fourth quarter set a tone for the team to keep things moving and to stay aggressive.

That was something that was missing from this team. And something Gordon helped deliver.

"“That’s the Aaron we need period,” Evan Fournier said. “He made a few shots early and then the paint started to open up for him. He’s so strong and so athletic, he’s tough to guard.“We just played better basketball overall. That’s what we need. Get good looks, make sure we move the ball and make sure we share it. When you have a good one, take it with confidence. Don’t second guess it.”"

But it was not really about Gordon. Gordon’s play might have been a symptom of a larger energy that permeated throughout the team rather than its cause.

Vogel lauded Gordon for not trying to force play too much. His offense, Vogel said, came naturally within the flow of the offense. That is a message Vogel has repeated to his team throughout the losing streak.

That is something he has impressing on his team throughout this losing streak. They do not need anyone to play “hero ball.” They needed to play together. It is a message he has tried to deliver to the team harshly at times.

Gordon, he said, played the right way most of the night. He worked within the offense not forcing offense or driving into crowds. He took what the defense gave him and moved the ball when nothing was there. The ball eventually found him again and he drained the open shot.

Still, it was hard not to notice Gordon’s aggression. he was playing within the team — and that message finally sank in — but Gordon was also aggressive. He was attacking and exploiting the defense, rather than forcing things.

The team delivered, playing a desperate brand of basketball, diving on the floor and flying to through the lane to get stops. Making shots helped for sure — the team mirrored Gordon’s good shooting, making 59.2 percent of its shots and dishing out 28 assists — but the team was not going to back down. Even as Russell Westbrook made his push.

"“I think the biggest thing is we started to get loose balls in the second half,” Vogel said. “That stuff matters. When you dive on the floor, even if you don’t get it, you inspire your teammates and you bring energy to your group. We don’t do that enough. Our guys did that in the second half. That was part of it, we just had a little more resolve tonight.”"

A common refrain from the team afterward was that the team just played hard. Something so simple as that. They had the energy all night to keep getting after the Thunder.

Vogel credited the team’s willingness to dive on the floor and get loose balls. The Magic had plenty of those and plenty of 50/50 balls they won. They were sharper defensively. Not perfect — see the 21 offensive rebounds they conceded — but sharper.

Gordon was chief among them. He did not give them an inch on offense. Nor did he give up an inch on defense. He was challenging shots and switching well. He was flying to rebounds and helping the team get out in transition.

Every player said their focus was higher as they were determined to end a nine-game losing streak. They were going to end this streak.

"“Losing kills your spirit so we’re just tired of that,” Gordon said. “We wanted to come back into this locker room with a good feeling going into tomorrow’s practice and the next day when we play the Warriors.”"

Next: Grades: Orlando Magic 121, Oklahoma City Thunder 108

At last, Orlando responded.