Magic compete hard but another starter goes down in loss to Thunder

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on Dec 19, 2024

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ORLANDO, Fla. — During Thursday morning shootaround, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley twice described Oklahoma City‘s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a league MVP candidate.

The two-time All-NBA guard backed up the high praise he received with a game-high 35 points during the Thunder’s 105-99 victory in front of a national TV audience on TNT at Kia Center.

But without their own superstars in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who are continuing to recover from the same injury (torn right abdominal muscle), the Magic lacked the offensive firepower to keep up in a battle between two of the NBA’s top defenses.

The loss to the Thunder (21-5) marked Orlando’s third in a row and second at home after it opened here 10-0.

The Magic (17-12) remain at Kia Center when they host the Heat on Saturday.

Black fills in for Suggs

Jalen Suggs exited with 1:36 left in the first half when he went down grabbing his left ankle.

Suggs was able to walk off the court on his own power and start the second half, but he only played four minutes in the third quarter before leaving again.

He didn’t return after recording nine points, five rebounds and four assists in 17 minutes.

That’s when Anthony Black stepped in for Suggs the rest of the way and offered key scoring down the stretch.

The second-year guard scored 19 of his team-high 23 in the second half. The total matched a career high for Black, who added three assists in 31 minutes.

Game of runs

The Thunder led the Magic by one at the end of the first quarter, but Mosley’s decision to stick with a full-bench lineup to start the second frame backfired.

Oklahoma City picked apart that group — Cole Anthony, Black, Jett Howard, Jonathan Isaac and Moe Wagner — with Gilgeous-Alexander sitting.

The Thunder opened the second quarter on a 16-4 run and outsourced Orlando 36-18 in 12 minutes to lead by 19 at the break.

The Magic, however, punched back in the third with a 22-3 run powered by turning defense into offense. Orlando got as close as four, but the Thunder led by eight entering the fourth.

Orlando again cut the deficit to just three with only three minutes into the final frame, but the Thunder regained full control of the contest from there on out.

Rookie watch

Tristan Da Silva continued to play aggressively on the offensive end when he searched for own shots off the dribble and cutting to the basket.

The No. 18 pick drilled three triples to total 15 points but missed his other five attempts from distance in 37 minutes. He and Goga Bitadze (15) led the Magic’s starters in scoring.