The Magic home stand continues tonight in the Amway Center as Orlando take on the OKC Thunder. Both teams are struggling and lottery bound.
The Orlando tip time off time is shown on the Orlando Magic website as being 10pm here in the U.K. (6pm Eastern for our friends in Orlando). To watch the game live or on demand you will need an active NBA League Pass subscription.
Time to take a look at the matchup between these two teams.
Season Record And Last Time Out
The Orlando Magic
It was disappointment as Orlando lost to Detroit in the Amway Center by 134-120. Saddiq Bey lit up the scoreboard, scoring a career high 51 points. Whilst the Magic scored freely over all the response to the mauling by Brooklyn was disappointing. The defence again failed to be a cohesive unit.
Franz Wagner scored 26 points as he showed why he should be a part of the Rookie of the Year conversation. Moritz Wagner followed his brother in scoring, in making a start he tallied 16 points. Terrence Ross led the bench with 17 points. Cole Anthony recorded 12 points and 7 assists. Mo Bamba got a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds. Markelle Fultz put up 11 points and 5 assists.
Orlando now have a record for the season of 18 wins and 53 losses. There are 11 games remaining. This still sees the Magic last in the Eastern Conference. Over the last 10 games played the Magic have won 4. The home record stands at 8 wins of 34 games played. On the road the record is 10 wins in 37 games played. Points per game sees the Magic scoring 104.5, whilst conceding 112.5.
Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC last played on Friday night, losing by 108-120 in Miami to the Heat. The Thunder were led by 26 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Tre Mann followed from the bench with 25 points. Darius Bazley had 15 points and Aaron Wiggins 17. A double-double was secured by Aleksej Pokusevski with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
Oklahoma have a record for the season of 20 wins and 50 losses. The Thunder sit 14th in the Western Conference. Over the last 10 games played they have won 1, losing 8 straight. On the road the record is 11 wins in 35 games played. Points per game sees the Thunder scoring 103.1, whilst conceding 111.
Head-To-Head – The Oklahoma City Thunder
This is the first meeting of the season.
Both meetings last season were in the early days of the campaign, being split 1-1 as each team took the road game. That road win broke a 5 game losing streak for the Magic against OKC, the last two seasons Orlando being swept 2-0.
Interestingly, these games are often close affairs. Over the past 12 meetings only 3 have been won by a margin of 11 points or more.
The all time regular season record sees 64 games played, with the Magic trailing 24-40.
These two teams have never met in the playoffs.
Our Opponents – The Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are without 7 players and have one doubt listed on ESPN. Out are Josh Giddey, Derrick Favors, Luguentz Dort, Ty Jerome, Mike Muscala, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Kenrich Williams. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is questionable.
Last Starting Unit: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG), Aaron Wiggins (SG), Darius Bazley (PF), Aleksej Pokusevski (SF), Oliver Sarr (C)
Bench Unit: Vit Krejci, Tre Mann, Isaiah Roby, Theo Maledon, Lindy Waters III
The Orlando Magic Lineup And Injury Report
Injury Report – Coach Jamahl Mosely will have players returning which will see changes to the rotations. Chuma Okeke and Wendell Carter Jr are no longer listed on the injury report so could return. Jalen Suggs is again a game time decision being questionable.
Magic Starting Lineup – Cole Anthony (PG), RJ Hampton (SG), Franz Wagner (SF), Moe Wagner (PF), Mo Bamba (C)
Magic Bench Unit – Markelle Fultz, Terrence Ross, Admiral Schofield, Ignas Brazdeikis, Robin Lopez, Gary Harris (DNP),
Injury Report – Jalen Suggs, Chuma Okeke, Wendell Carter Jr, Jonathan Isaac and Bol Bol were all out for Orlando.
Final Thoughts As Orlando Take On The OKC Thunder
This is another game of two teams sat low in the league. A win is not something either team want hugely. At this point it is all about the lottery odds for both teams.
The OKC statistics really do not apply with so many key players being absent. However expect a lot of three’s being shot, with the league’s worst accuracy rate!
Orlando will again have opportunities on the boards as OKC are far from a good rebounding team and have lost their strengths in that contest.
Finally, expect to see Markelle Fultz to be involved for the 15-to-20 minutes he has been playing.
Let’s Go Magic!
