The Orlando Magic return to the road to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in a battle between two teams eager it seems to rest players ahead of their offseason.
Orlando Magic (20-53) at Oklahoma City Thunder (20-52)
Time/TV: 8 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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Line via WynnBet: Magic by 2
Tickets: $6-$221 on StubHub
2022 Season Series: Magic 90, Thunder 85 in Orlando on March 20; Tonight in Oklahoma City
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 99.7 | 104.0 | 111.7 | 50.2 | 25.2 | 14.6 | 23.0 |
| Oklahoma City | 99.4 | 103.2 | 111.1 | 49.2 | 25.8 | 13.8 | 22.0 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic have made undeniable progress. They were down 14 after giving up a 36-point quarter and rallied to get the win. That is not something the Magic can mark down as a step in the right direction. This team is playing many of its important young players and they are the ones excelling and delivering the team these wins.
Orlando is at a point where it should be looking for wins. The team should not be counting on moral victories anymore. The team should be seeking some tangible results. Even if the conditions are favorable — like Stephen Curry’s absence.
That will not be the story of Wednesday’s game. The story it already appears is a race to the bottom as the Oklahoma City Thunder have caught the Orlando Magic in the win column and are set to knock the Magic out of the bottom three — and the top odds to win the Lottery. Do not worry, the Detroit Pistons appear like they are trying to win too.
There are going to be some players sitting this game that maybe would not otherwise. And this game will not be representative of, well, anything.
3 Keys To Watch
Magic’s improvement
The Orlando Magic have gotten better. There is no denying that. And the team wanted to see daily improvement as they moved through the season.
That included winning toward the end of the season. It had to. That is how progress works. And that is ultimately a good thing.
The Magic’s defense is the biggest area of improvement.
Orlando is now 18th in the league in defensive rating at 111.7 points per 100 possessions. But there has been a clear progression. Through December, the Magic were 27th at 113.1 points allowed per 100 possessions. Since January, Orlando is ninth at 110.4 points allowed per 100 possessions. Since the All-Star Break, the Magic are second with a defensive rating of 108.7 points per 100 possessions.
That is quite the ride defensively. And that is who the team wants to be. Orlando is starting to carve this defensive identity.
This young team wants to improve and get better. The proof is in the numbers that they have gotten better.
Race to the bottom
This is not likely a game that is truly about that improvement the Orlando Magic have made. This is a game that is about the race to the bottom.
Thanks to the Orlando Magic’s 7-6 season since the All-Star Break, they have picked up steam and are now tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the third-fewest wins in the league with 20.
This game could well knock the Magic out of the top odds. The fourth-place team gets a 12.5-percent chance at the top pick (compared to 14.0-percent with the worst three records) and a 48.1-percent chance of landing in the top four (compared to 52.1-percent for the worst three records).
The numbers are worse, but it is still essentially a coin flip to get into the top four. The Magic are still in that position — the Orlando Magic are five games ahead of the Sacramento Kings for fifth.
Injuries are indeed the story. The Thunder have listed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as QUESTIONABLE with right ankle soreness. The Magic will be without Markelle Fultz (injury management, he played last night) and Jalen Suggs (right ankle bone bruise). They have also listed Wendell Carter as QUESTIONABLE (right wrist and ankle sprain) and Gary Harris as QUESTIONABLE (left knee contusion).
Good luck figuring this one out.
Terrence Ross and Gary Harris
Since the All-Star Break, the Orlando Magic have essentially flipped Gary Harris and Terrence Ross every other game. Harris is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game, but he played Tuesday and was likely not going to play in this game anyway. It has been a weird arrangement, done to make sure Markelle Fultz gets his time on the court and to give a brief look at two-way players in Admiral Schofield and Ignas Brazdeikis.
The arrangement has led to some struggles for sure. Harris is averaging 9.3 points per game and shooting 40.9-percent from beyond the arc since the All-Star Break. Ross is averaging 7.4 points per game and shooting 18.9-percent from beyond the arc.
The Magic have a team-best +10.8 net rating with Harris on the floor since the All-Star Break. They have a -14.1 net rating with Ross on the floor since the All-Star Break (only Schofield and Brazdeikis have worse marks since the break).
It is no coincidence that it feels like the Magic win more often when Harris plays.