Thunder vs Magic: Pregame Primer
vs.
Thunder (1-0, 0-0 road) vs. Magic (0-1, 0-1 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1300 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 6:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 110.2 (8th), Magic – 89.2 (29th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 104.3 (15th), Magic – 90.2 (4th)
Pretty successful opening night for Donovan yea? Going to toe-to-toe with the best in the business and pulling out a victory on an off night from Durant? Huge.
“I was very pleased that our guys just kept their composure,” Donovan said. “They kept battling, they kept fighting, and I think everyone knew it was going to be a game that was going to come down that way.”
With OKC’s impressive opening night against the Spurs, The Thunder is now on pace for the first 82-0 start in the history of the NBA. Presumably scoring Donovan COY honors as they head into the playoffs as the top overall seed. (*A hearty hat tip to all you #OnPace guys and girls out there)
Tonight the Thunder is in Orlando to take on a young, talented Magic team coming off an 88-87 loss to the Washington Wizards. One thing to watch is the reaction the Magic fans give Billy Donovan, who served as Magic coach for less than a week back in 2007 before returning to the University of Florida.
3 Big Things
1. Durant
Wednesday night was Durant’s first regular season game since Feb. 19. That alone presents a certain set of challenges. Add to it the draw of San Antonio and reigning defensive player of the year millennium, Kawhi Leonard, and a 6-19 shooting night starts to seem almost appropriate.
Tonight Durant leads the Thunder into Orlando where they cruised to a 127-99 win on Jan. 18 with KD scoring a game-high 21 points. Tonight smells like one of those 35 points for #35 games.
2. Turnovers
The Spurs forced 19 Thunder turnovers Wednesday night including 5 from Westbrook and 4 from Ibaka. A lot of that can be chalked up to first-game jitters and rust, but 19 is too many. While the Magic don’t have the scheme or personnel of the Spurs, they are very capable of causing problems for opposing backcourts –Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo both averaged nearly two steals a game last year.
3. Lineups
Billy Donovan’s first item of business early in the year is finding the combinations that work the most. Last night Adams and Kanter got extended minutes together, and DION WAITERS closed the game with the starters, scoring two of the biggest baskets of the night on consecutive possessions.
The Magic’s guard-oriented team will call for more minutes from different players, and maybe even more small lineups. Kyle Singler, Anthony Morrow, WAITERS and Roberson will all likely see more minutes tonight than Wednesday.
Mitch McGary missed Wednesday’s game against the Spurs. He’s active tonight, but still up in the air on if he’ll see the floor.
Wednesday’s COTN: “Ryan Woods I have something for you to keep classy” – @Alaska
i basically asked for this Savagery.
Tip at 6:00 CT. Go Road Thunders.
