The Oklahoma City Thunder puts its 8-game win streak on the line on Tuesday night as they kick off a 5-game East Coast road trip in Orlando against the Magic. OKC’s win streak has featured plenty of highlights, with 6 wins against 5 different teams currently in playoff position. Orlando is fresh off a 7-win streak of their own, which was snapped last night in a 124-112 road loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
Orlando is similar to OKC in terms of key injuries over the season, but the Thunder has fared much better than the Magic. Orlando currently sits in 5th place in the Eastern Conference with a 38-29 record, tied with the Toronto Raptors. After going 41-41 last season, followed by a first-round exit via the Boston Celtics, the Magic had high hopes of being a real contender in the East, but they’ve yet to reach that potential.
Orlando is a balanced team with three players averaging at least 20 points and three others who average double digits. Paolo Banchero leads the Magic with averages of 22.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Franz Wagner, who has played just 28 games this season, is averaging 21.3 points, but he hasn’t played in over a month due to injury management on a badly sprained ankle he sustained back in December. Desmond Bane has been a nice addition to the Magic, and he’s averaging 20.6 points.
The Magic aren’t one of the top offenses in the NBA, but their balance makes them dangerous. OKC’s defense is just as balanced, though, and they have the depth to go with it. Orlando is a solid defensive team, though, and the Thunder hasn’t exactly played the best offense during the current win streak. Over the last 8 games, OKC is shooting just 45.2% from the field and 32.0% from three, both several percentage points below average.
One thing has stayed consistent, though, and that is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak of games with 20+ points. The run nearly ended on Sunday against Minnesota, but SGA found his shot late to just barely keep the streak going. He should be able to top that again tonight, as he has done so 7 straight times against the Magic.
Tonight’s matchup will be followed by a couple of “easier” games against teams nowhere near playoff contention, so it would be nice if OKC can lock in, keep the win streak alive, and start the road trip off with a victory.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 6 PM CT
Location: Kia Center (Orlando, Florida)
Television: Fanduel Sports Network 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: Ajay Mitchell
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Chet Holmgren
- C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Magic
- PG: Jalen Suggs
- SG: Desmond Bane
- SF: Tristan da Silva
- PF: Paolo Banchero
- C: Wendell Carter
Injury Report
Thunder
- Brooks Barnhizer (G League — two-way) is OUT.
- Branden Carlson (strained lower back) is OUT.
- Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) is OUT.
- Nikola Topic (G League — on assignment) is OUT.
- Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring) is OUT.
Magic
- Anthony Black (strained left lateral abdominal) is OUT.
- Colin Castleton (G League — two-way) is OUT.
- Jonathan Isaac (sprained left knee) is OUT.
- Alex Morales (G League — two-way) is OUT.
- Franz Wagner (sprained left high ankle injury management) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 24-10 against the Magic in the regular season (14-3 at home, 10-7 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series with the Magic 7 times, lost it once, and tied it 8 times.
- The Thunder went 2-0 against the Magic last season (1-0 at home, 1-0 on the road).
- OKC is 1-0 against Orlando so far this season (1-0 at home, 0-0 on the road).
- The Thunder has won 5 straight against the Magic, including the last 2 in Orlando.