The Lead

Wendell Carter Jr. matched his career high with 30 points while tying his season best with 12 rebounds and Franz Wagner amassed 20 points and a season-best seven assists, but the Orlando Magic, despite leading by as many as 15 in the game and 11 in the fourth quarter, were unable to hang on against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Tuesday’s 116-108 loss.

Clutch Plays

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who erupted for 34 points, and Aleksej Pokusevski each made a pair of big shots down the stretch during OKC’s late 23-4 run. But the biggest shot of the night came with 51.9 seconds left when Lu Dort, who also was stifling defensively against Paolo Banchero, drilled a dagger 3-pointer that put OKC up six. 

Key Stats

Turnovers were Orlando’s kryptonite. They coughed the ball up 25 times. The Thunder scored 30 of their points off those miscues. Both teams had their way inside, combining for 114 paint points.

Interesting Notes

Carter’s other 30-point night also came against the Thunder. That took place on March 20 of last season at Amway Center. Jalen Suggs, who missed the last five games with a sprained ankle, returned and finished with nine points, two rebounds, four assists and two steals in 28 minutes. 

Memorable Moment

To complete a wild back-and-forth sequence late in the second quarter, Bol Bol grabbed a rebound, pushed the ball ahead, and found Wagner in stride for an emphatic one-handed slam as he zipped past Josh Giddey.