ORLANDO, Fla. — Paolo Banchero had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the Orlando Magic defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 126-115 Wednesday night.
Orlando, playing without four suspended players, broke a three-game losing streak.
Gary Harris and Terrence Ross each scored 18 points for the magic. Wendell Carter Jr. added 13 points and 13 rebounds in his first start since Nov. 18.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is back in the lineup after missing Tuesday’s 150-117 win in Boston due to a non-COVID-19 illness, scored 33 points for the Thunder.
When they set their franchise scoring record Tuesday night, the Thunder scored 70 points in the paint. The magic kept her at 30.
“This is our calling card as a team,” Banchero said. “If we play good defense, we usually play good offense as well. Tonight it was the most we had to do to keep her off the paint. They hit some 3s but at the end of the day they kill teams in the suit. That was our main focus and we did a good job.”
Banchero scored the first five points in a 10-0 run that pushed Orlando’s lead into double digits midway through the second quarter. Caleb Houston hit a couple of 3-pointers late in the half and hit with a putback two seconds from time, leaving the Magic with a 70-53 halftime lead.
“There was definitely a conscious effort on their part to attack and protect the paint. They nailed it in the first half and built a 17-point cushion,” said Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault. “We tried to get back into the game in the second half but it was a tough deficit to overcome, little margin for error.”
Three free throws by Harris extended the lead to 80-58 with the third remaining 8:11.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Joe scored the last nine points of the third, returning the Thunder within seven at 95-88. But the rally fizzled out from there.
“Consistency is something we need to get better at,” said Josh Giddey, who scored 16 for the Thunder. “Last night we easily beat one of the better teams in the league and then we come in here and lose by 15.”
TIP INS
Thunder: C Jaylin Williams left early in the second half with a left ankle sprain. … After the Thunder shot 59.5% Tuesday night, the Thunder shot 40.9% against Orlando. … Gilgeous-Alexander went 17 for 18 at the free throw line.
Magic: G. Franz Wagner, G. Kevon Harris and F. Admiral Schofield were sidelined by one-game suspensions, and C. Mo. Wagner sat the second game of his two-game suspension for their involvement in a game altercation in Detroit on 14/29…F Bol Bol missed his first game of the season after entering NBA health and safety protocol. … The Magic had a 49-32 rebound advantage.
PASS IT ON
Magic coach Jamal Mosley estimated Banchero’s seven assists.
“What’s great about him is his ability to trust his teammates to find the open man and want to make the right play,” Mosley said. “Every time he’s out there, he’s trying to make and create for his team and make winning plays.”
NEXT
Donner: Play at home against Washington on Friday night.
Magic: Play Memphis at home on Thursday night.
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