Magic Fall Short on Shaq Night vs. Thunder
In this story:
ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic are back in the loss column after a 127-113 defeat at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night at the Kia Center.
With the Magic on a national stage and Shaquille O'Neal in the building for his jersey retirement ceremony, Orlando couldn't get the job done.
The Magic started the game with a decent amount of energy, but once the second quarter began, the Thunder made their move.
Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma City made the first basket in the second quarter and took a lead that they would never relinquish. Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were too much for the Magic to handle.
Gilgeous-Alexander added to his MVP campaign with a 32-point performance, while Williams played a key role with a game-high 33 points of his own.
For the Magic, Paolo Banchero notched a double-double with 23 points and 10 assists, while Wendell Carter Jr. was right behind him with 22.
The loss snaps a streak where the Magic have won five of six games, and it takes them out of the top six in the Eastern Conference standings, but they will have a chance to wash this game out with a strong performance tomorrow evening against the New York Knicks.
The Magic and Knicks are set to tip off tomorrow night at 7 p.m. ET inside the Kia Center in the final game before the All-Star Break.
