The Orlando Magic return to action against another struggling team in the Oklahoma City Thunder hoping to be a bit healthier and hoping to break their streak of horrid defensive performances.
Orlando Magic (18-53) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (20-50)
Time/TV: 6 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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Line via WynnBet: Magic by 6.5
Tickets: $10-$533 on StubHub
2022 Season Series: Tonight in Orlando; March 23 in Oklahoma City
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | 99.3 | 103.1 | 111.1 | 49.2 | 25.8 | 13.8 | 22.2 |
| Orlando | 99.8 | 104.2 | 112.3 | 50.3 | 25.1 | 14.5 | 22.9 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic are in a bad spot. They have given up the most points in back-to-back games in franchise history. They have given up back-to-back 50-point games. Their defense just looks lost and disorganized. The will and fight got sucked out of them somehow. It is very discouraging. And so the Magic are looking to grab hold of the rope again. They cannot just drift to the end in these final 11 games.
This game against the Oklahoma City Thunder is going to be one of motivation again. The Thunder have several important players on the shelf with “soreness” injuries — including rookie Josh Giddey is out with right hip soreness and Luguentz Dort had season-ending surgery. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is listed as QUESTIONABLE with right ankle soreness.
The Magic are getting healthier. Wendell Carter and Chuma Okeke were removed from the injured list after missing Thursday’s game. They should help with the defense. And while Jalen Suggs did not practice Saturday, he is still listed as QUESTIONABLE.
That should give the Magic a bit of an advantage. And Orlando needs to get things right.
3 Keys To Watch
Offensive Issues
There is no other way to say this: The Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder are the two worst offenses in the league. By every measure, these are two teams that simply struggle to score. Perhaps alarmingly for the Thunder that has come even with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the roster. More on him in a bit.
The Magic have only just barely — and recently — cleared the 50-percent mark on effective field goal percentage. The Thunder are still below that mark. That could make for an ugly basketball game. But that does not mean either team could not score.
Orlando has been effective when the team is able to get the pace up and use its defense to charge its offense. It is safe to say Oklahoma City likes to do the same thing with its athletes.
At the end of the day, both teams need to execute in the half-court to have any chance at a victory. And whichever team brings the defense is going to have the best chance to win.
Don’t be Shai
Comparing rebuilds is always a dangerous game. Every situation is different and it is easy to flip the switch with one stroke of luck. The opportunities one team gets may not be the same as another. And it is always better to focus on the guys your team has and getting the most out of them.
There is one area where the Thunder clearly have an advantage over the Magic at this stage. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a burgeoning star. And Oklahoma City should be feeling some pressure to speed their build up some because Gilgeous-Alexander is so good now. Instead, it seems like they play games to keep him out of these late-season games (frankly, wasting how good he has been).
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 24.4 points per game and 5.9 assists per game. He has had a poor shooting this year, but he is an explosive finisher around the basket and a dynamic scorer. Orlando certainly would like one of those to help kickstart this rebuild a little bit more.
The Thunder’s struggling offense is better with Gilgeous-Alexander too. Oklahoma City scores 106.1 points per 100 possessions with Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor compared to 97.8 points per 100 possessions with him off the floor.
R.J. the shooter
As the Orlando Magic’s season has come to a close, R.J. Hampton has a lot to prove. He has had a lot to prove all season. And while there have been plenty of hiccups, the Orlando Magic are starting to see their young guard round himself into form and carve a clear role. This will be something to explore more deeply in a future post. But here is a taste.
Hampton this year is averaging 7.2 points per game and is shooting 35.9-percent from beyond the arc. He actually shoots better on threes than on 2-pointers. Hampton is shooting a 55.9-percent effective field goal percentage on spot-up 3-pointers.
Hampton’s defense is still improving. But the Magic have had a clear plan for him all season. They have tried to limit his reps at point guard (mostly because his decision-making is a bit suspect and he can be a poor finisher at the rim).
But this is how you are supposed to develop a guy. They are putting him in the role they envision for him. And he is starting to play a lot better for it.