Jalen Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander power Thunder past Magic
Feb 13, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball over Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) during the first quarter at Amway Center. credits: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports Jalen Williams scored 33 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 32 as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the host Orlando Magic 127-113 on Tuesday night.
It was the second consecutive game that both players topped 30 points. The Thunder have won two consecutive games and five of their last seven, sweeping the two-game season series against the Magic.
Orlando had won two straight and five of its previous six.
Oklahoma City shot 54.8 percent, with Williams leading the way shooting 12 of 18. He scored 17 of his points in the fourth, after Orlando cut a 17-point deficit down to 10 heading into the final quarter.
Williams scored the Thunder's first 10 points of the fourth, as Oklahoma City stretched its lead to 21 quickly after making its first seven shots of the fourth.
The game was a matchup of the top two picks in the 2022 draft, with Orlando's Paolo Banchero, the top overall pick, facing off with the Thunder's Chet Holmgren.
Banchero led the Magic with 23 points and 10 assists, while Wendell Carter Jr. added 22 points.
Holmgren finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and five blocks for Oklahoma City.
On the night when the Magic retired Shaquille O'Neal's No. 32 jersey number, Orlando got off to a hot start.
The Magic led by 11 early, jumping out to a 25-14 lead in the first seven minutes thanks to four 3-pointers.
But Oklahoma City turned up the heat defensively after a rough start, and quickly turned the tide.
The Thunder ripped off a 17-5 run to take their first lead since the opening minute, holding the Magic to 1 for 5 from the field with three turnovers.
One of those turnovers came in the wake of Jonathan Isaac's missed 3-pointer.
Jalen Suggs scrambled to save the ball from going out of bounds, heaving to it Joe Ingles near the sideline in the backcourt. Ingles had to scramble as well, throwing it toward the middle of the court, where it was picked off by a streaking Luguentz Dort, who took it straight to the basket for a dunk.
Orlando led 32-31 after the first quarter, but the Magic never led again after Cason Wallace opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer to put Oklahoma City back in front.
—Field Level Media