National Basketball Association
Orlando 126, Oklahoma City 115
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Where: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Officials: #78 Evan Scott, #39 Tyler Ford, #9 Natalie Sago
Attendance: 18925

Paolo Banchero had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the short-handed Orlando Magic to a 126-115 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday in Orlando, Fla.

With Bol Bol in the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocol and three players serving suspensions due to an incident Dec. 28 against Detroit, the Magic had just nine players.

But Orlando snapped a three-game losing streak with a balanced offensive effort. Eight players finished with at least 10 points. Gary Harris and Terrence Ross scored 18, and Wendell Carter Jr. tallied 13 points and 13 rebounds.

After leading for much of the early part of the game, Orlando steadily stretched its lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Thunder 39-25.

Banchero had four of his assists in the second, as the Magic went 14 of 23 (60.9 percent) to lead 70-53 at the break.

It was Orlando's biggest-scoring second quarter of the season.

The Magic extended their lead to 22 early in the third quarter before the Thunder started a push of its own. Oklahoma City ended the quarter on a 20-8 run to cut Orlando's lead to seven heading into the fourth. Isaiah Joe scored 11 points during the stretch, which lasted for the final 4:12 of the quarter.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who missed the Thunder's 150-117 win over Boston the night before with an illness, scored 13 of his 33 points in the third quarter Wednesday. He tied his career high by making 17 free throws in the game.

With 10 minutes left, Gilgeous-Alexander hit a turnaround fadeaway to cut Orlando's lead to seven.

Banchero responded almost immediately with a low-arcing 3-pointer, and the Thunder never again seriously challenged.

Oklahoma City's Jaylin Williams left the game in the third quarter after rolling his left ankle and didn't return.

Orlando finished at 51.9 percent shooting -- its ninth game shooting 50 percent or better. The Magic outscored the Thunder 48-30 in the paint.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Oklahoma City   Orlando
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 33 Scoring Paolo Banchero 25
Josh Giddey 4 Assists Paolo Banchero 7
Kenrich Williams 9 Rebounds Wendell Carter Jr. 13
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 17 Free Throws Made Paolo Banchero 7
Jalen Williams 5 Steals Mo Bamba 1
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 1 Blocks Wendell Carter Jr. 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Oklahoma City 115 40.4 15-37 28-31 23 33 3 9 9
Orlando 126 51.9 13-33 29-36 26 49 5 6 17
Upcoming Games
  • Orlando will play their next game at home against Memphis. The Magic have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .292 after a loss.
  • Oklahoma City will play their next game at home against Washington. The Thunder have a W/L % of .471 after a win and .381 after a loss.