3 Takeaways From the OKC Thunder’s Hard-Fought Win Against the Magic

The Thunder had to overcome a rough offensive night to earn a tie atop the Western Conference.

In a game that was often ugly, the Oklahoma City Thunder hung on for another win.

The Thunder beat the Orlando Magic 112-100 on Saturday for their fourth win in a row. Following a 62-point rout of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Thunder had to adjust to a significant step up in competition.

While the offense took a while to find a rhythm, Oklahoma City’s defense was on point in the first half. Allowing Orlando to score just 40 points before halftime, Oklahoma City has given up just 79 points combined in the past two first halves.

Still, the Thunder had to stop Paolo Banchero in the final minutes to secure a win. In his first matchup against Chef Holmgren, the top two picks from 2022 played well, with both scoring well and hitting timely shots.

Let’s dive into three lessons that can be learned from yesterday’s game.

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Even the best defenses have no answer for SGA

At halftime, Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Those numbers are especially impressive when Oklahoma City had only 49 points and no other players shooting better than 50%.

He finished with 37 on 65% shooting and consistently got to the free throw line. With six and-ones against the Magic, Gilgeous-Alexander not only got tough baskets but forced one of the best defenses in the NBA to foul him.

Although he struggled from outside like the rest of the team, the Thunder star missed just three shots inside the arc. Against a team notorious for playing ugly, grinded-out games, dominating the inside is another example of Gilgeous-Alexander’s elite scoring ability.

The Thunder can adapt when shots don’t fall

Struggling from 3-point range was a defining part of both teams’ offenses. However, an 8-of-36 performance from deep did not ruin Oklahoma City’s chances of winning.

Instead, the Thunder made adjustments and stretched out their already diverse offensive attack. While many of the looks from outside were open, the Thunder opted to pass up some of those looks for easier offense, taking just 14 threes in the second half.

Among those who passed up on open 3-pointers was Chet Holmgren. With an open shot at the top of the key, he drove into an empty lane before dumping off to Jalen Williams for an easy layup.

OKC takes care of business late in games

The Thunder led for all but a few possessions in the first quarter. Yet, the Magic were still within striking distance in the final minutes.

In a situation where Thunder teams in past years may have folded, this season’s team held strong. The Magic cut the lead to six and had opportunities to cut into it further, but the Thunder shut the door.

Oklahoma City used a big bucket off an offensive rebound by Williams and flagrant free throws by Lu Dort to seal the game.

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The Thunder has continued to show they can win games in various ways, which is important as they brace for the upcoming four-game road trip. They will have two games in the first stop at Crypto.com Arena.

Oklahoma City will get the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday and finish a back-to-back against the LA Clippers on Tuesday.

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