The Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday 139-77 for the 5th largest margin of victory in NBA history. Tonight, the Thunder is a heavy favorite yet again as they host the Orlando Magic.
The Magic is another young team progressing along in their rebuild, and after a hot start to the season that included a 9-game winning streak, their success has tapered off. Since going 14-5 to start, they have managed to go just 7-12, but they’re still sitting at 8th in the Eastern Conference at 21-17 on the season.
This is the first matchup between the #1 and #2 picks of the 2022 drafts as the Magic’s Paolo Banchero will face off with OKC’s Chet Holmgren. Banchero won Rookie of the Year last year, and after missing last season due to injury, Holmgren has a good shot at getting Rookie of the Year this year.
Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Orlando Magic Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Josh Giddey
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Chet Holmgren
Magic
- PG: Jalen Suggs
- SG: Caleb Houstan
- SF: Chuma Okeke
- PF: Paolo Banchero
- C: Goga Bitadze
Injury Report
Thunder
- NONE
Magic
- Wendell Carter Jr. is OUT (right knee tendinitis).
- Markelle Fultz is OUT (left knee injury maintenance).
- Gary Harris is OUT (strained right calf).
- Kevon Harris is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Jett Howard is OUT (G League — on assignment).
- Joe Ingles is OUT (left ankle injury maintenance).
- Franz Wagner is OUT (sprained right ankle).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 20-10 against the Magic in the regular season (12-3 at home, 8-7 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series with the Magic 6 times, lost it once, and tied it 8 times.
- The Thunder went 1-1 against the Magic last season (1-0 at home, 0-1 on the road).