Magic fall to OKC 116-108 in another poor fourth quarter
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Thee Orlando Magic lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-108 on Tuesday night, bringing their record to 1 and 7 this season.
The Magic have been plagued by injuries, knocking out most of their point guards nd other key players, and yet have been able to hang withs some of the biggest teams in the NBA…until the fourth quarter.
This gave vs OKC seemed to be the same, but when you look at the stats, there is a different story to tell.
“25 turnovers for 30 points” said Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosely after he asked about what happened to the game.
With that many giveaways, they didn’t stand a chance. It laid waste to a 30 point, 12 rebound performance by Wendell Carter Jr as well as a 20 game by Franz Wagner.
Also, Jalen Suggs returned to the lineup after losing time with a sprained ankle, so their starting point guard back into the fold.
But the Magic were without Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Jonathan Isaac, and Mo Wagner, leaving them to lean on their young star Paola Banchero (15 points 3 rebounds) and Bol Bol (13 points 12 rebounds 4 blocked shots).
But the outside firepower isn’t there, and the leadership to get them to close out games isn’t there yet, so that’s why they are 1 and 7.
But the season is early.
Shai Gilgeouns-Alexander held up the Thunder with 34 points, with Josh Giddy grabbing 10 rebounds, which the Magic dominated 49 to 36.
More concerns is that Terrance Ross left the game and only managed to play 3:43 minutes in the game.
The Magic lead by as much as 15 points in the game, and led at halftime 66-63. But Orlando only managed 22 points in the third quarter, matching Oklahoma City, but OKC scored 31 points in the fourth quarter to only 20 points for the Magic.
They have a lot more work to do in that shiny new training facility.
The Magic face the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at the Amway Center.