Fourth victory in a row for the Thunder which switches to the positive (4v-3d) after this success at home against the Magic (116-108). A stunning victory since Orlando, last in the Eastern Conference, counted up to 15 points ahead (86-71) in the 3rd quarter thanks to a great Wendell Carter Jr. Moment chosen by OKC to tighten the screw in defense, and Orlando will not score a single point for four minutes.
The Thunder took the opportunity to sign a 14-2 and return to three units (88-85). Still no Carter, in the axis at 3-points, the Magic regains some air to regain an 11-point lead (104-93). A gap that we think is final except that the Magic will no longer register the slightest basket until the end of the match! For seven minutes, Orlando misses 10 shots in a row, and OKC signs first a 12-0 to take control (105-104), then an 11-4 to validate the victory.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Magic’s stray bullets. 25 stray balls for Orlando who twice had the game well in hand. But twice, Bol Bol’s teammates (6 stray bullets!) completely cracked and the Thunder scored 30 points on these stray bullets. Terrence Ross out on injury, there was no experienced player able to calm the group in the two complicated moments of the game.
— An unlikely five. Jamahl Mosley gave us a unique and strange five with Terrence Ross, Paolo Banchero, Bol Bol, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. No playmaker in this configuration, and Ross’ injury cut short this formula with the quick entries from Jalen Suggs then RJ Hampton.
— OKC in the positive. With four wins for three losses, the Thunder has a positive record. This is a first for two years!
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The best player of the week plays the best basketball of his career, and he weighed on the game again with his accuracy and his ability to break the lines. He scored 13 points in the last quarter on 100% on shots. The return of Josh Giddey (10 assists) frees him up even more from managing the game.
✅ Aleksej Pokusevsky. The Serbian rod finds its feelings of its rookie year, and it accumulates 16 points, 9 rebounds and 3 against. It was he, on a 3-pointer, who put the Thunder ahead in the “money time”.
✅ Wendell Carter Jr.. The Magic’s best player by far, and he ties his career high with 30 points. All at 10 of 15 on shots, with a 2/2 to 3-pointers and 12 rebounds. While he had already scored 11 points in the first quarter, the Magic did not insist enough on him.
⛔ Jalen Suggs. For his return to competition, the former leader of Gonzaga watered a lot: 3 out of 14 on shots, including 1 out of 9 from 3-pointers. He also loses four balls. A game to forget.
THE FOLLOWING
Orlando (1-7) : Beginning of a series of seven games at home with the arrival of Golden State on Thursday.
OKC (4-3) : Denver reception Thursday night.
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