Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a stellar performance, scoring 35 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-99 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night. The Thunder, who bounced back after their NBA Cup final loss to Milwaukee, improved to 21-5 for the season.
Jalen Williams played a key role in the fourth quarter, scoring six consecutive points during a decisive 14-3 run that helped Oklahoma City hold off Orlando’s comeback. Isaiah Hartenstein contributed a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Aaron Wiggins, Alex Caruso, and Williams each added 11 points.
The Magic, now 17-12, were without their key forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner due to injuries. Despite the absences, Anthony Black stepped up with a career-high-tying 23 points, including nine straight to start the fourth quarter. Goga Bitadze also impressed with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Wendell Carter Jr. recorded a double-double of his own with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Oklahoma City relied heavily on its league-leading defense to secure the win. The Thunder limited Orlando to 44.9% shooting and forced 20 turnovers, capitalizing on the Magic’s struggles in finding consistent offense.
Orlando made an early push in the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit to three points before Williams’ critical scoring burst. Oklahoma City’s depth shone through as Wiggins, Caruso, and Kenrich Williams provided timely scoring and defensive stops.
The Magic’s turnovers proved costly as Oklahoma City turned several of them into transition points. Despite strong individual efforts, including Tristan da Silva’s 15 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s three triples, Orlando fell short. This loss marked their third straight and fourth in five games.
