Oklahoma City Thunder looking to bounce back against Orlando Magic
By Chris Hughes
Its official: the Oklahoma City Thunder have been the biggest test to the Los Angeles Clippers this season. But that doesn’t always mean wins. Now, OKC must turn their attention to the Serge Ibaka homecoming, as they need to deliver a bounce-back performance against the Orlando Magic.
Whilst it may be early in the season, the Thunder will be desperate for a good performance tonight. The side lost back-to-back games for the first time this week, with the Clippers and the Toronto Raptors both turning over the Thunder.
The game against the Magic is also the final match of a five-game homestand. OKC have played at the Chesapeake Arena ever since that loss to the Golden State Warriors. The franchise will not want to finish the run of five games at 2-3.
What’s more, next week brings a tough away match against the Detroit Pistons, and their first game against James ‘Point’ Harden this season.
The Magic meanwhile boast a record that mirrors OKC’s at 3-6. The bad news for Russell Westbrook and co. is, is that their runs come in threes.
The side began the season with losses to the Miami Heat, the Pistons, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They followed this up with a three-game hot streak against the Philadephia 76ers, the Sacramento Kings and the Washington Wizards.
Since that win on the 5th November though they’ve fallen to ANOTHER three consecutive L’s, losing to the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Utah Jazz.
Orlando have been inconsistent with their scoring so far this season too. The side have failed to hit triple figures in all losses bar one and ironically only the Cavs have failed to beat them by double digits.
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In fact, the Magic’s 92.3 point average is the worst in the entire league.
OKC meanwhile have averaged just over 102 ppg, which does actually put the side 18th in the charts. However, the only teams below the Thunder to boast a positive plus/minus rating is the Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs.
Key Players
Despite criticism over his ball game late into the fourth quarter, Russell Westbrook will still be the man tonight. The point guard has still averaged 30.9 points a game so far this season, and sits only behind Harden in the assist charts.
Although Russ’ rebounding numbers have tumbled, he’s still grabbing 8.9 a game, which earns him a spot in the top 20 averages. In fact, his figures are better than Karl-Anthony Towns, DeMarcus Cousins, and teammate Steven Adams.
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Meanwhile, Victor Oladipo will be hoping to haunt his former employer tonight, having left on Draft Night over the summer. The shooting guard’s average of 16.2 points per game is impressive, but his limited numbers with both rebounds and assists have held him back so far.
Oladipo’s on-court matchup Evan Fournier has been the Magic’s top scorer so far this season and will be one of their main offensive threats. The 24-year-old Frenchman’s 17.3 points per game is five more than any other Orlando player.
However it’s Nikola Vucevic who boasts the side’s best player efficiency rating at 20.7, thanks to his double-double average of 12.7 points and a team-high 10.7 boards.
Former OKC flame Serge Ibaka is averaging slightly worse returns to those last season, with returns of 12.4 on points, and 5.6 on rebounds.
Tip off is 7:30 PM E.T.