Magic fall to the Thunder 104-97

By Josh Robbins
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: February 3, 2015

The Orlando Magic know what they need to do: play with a sense of urgency and focus on defense for an entire game.

They just don’t do it.

And it cost them again Monday night.

Unable to overcome a poor first half and unable to shut down Russell Westbrook, the Magic lost their ninth consecutive game, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-97 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

“We’ve got to figure out a way to stop guys,” guard Victor Oladipo said. “We’ve just got to do a better job, whether it be in transition, halfcourt defense or team defense. We’ve just got to do a better job of slowing people down.”

The Magic at least showed some fight Monday — something they haven’t done enough of in recent weeks — by holding the Thunder to 43 second-half points.

The problem is, they don’t play that way for all four quarters.

“I think that’s what we’re searching for,” veteran guard Willie Green said, sighing. “I think it’s been kind of our Achilles’ heel throughout these losses. We’re looking to be consistent. It’s tough. Obviously, you give a lot of credit to Oklahoma; they’re a very good team. We’re searching.

“I’m proud of the guys that we went out and just fought, but obviously, there’s no moral victories in the NBA.”

The Thunder, like so many other Magic opponents, had no difficulty generating open shots near the rim in the first half. The Magic have allowed at least 100 points in 13 consecutive games.

Westbrook did the bulk of the damage, recording a triple-double before the third quarter ended. Westbrook finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists while he committed just two turnovers.

The Magic have lost 15 of their last 17 games, with many of those losses occurring in blowouts, raising questions about coach Jacque Vaughn’s job security.

A hallmark of the Magic’s last month is their inability to compete for long stretches.

“That comes with time, unfortunately,” Vaughn said. “And that comes with a lot of work and continual work. We have four or five possessions in transition defense where we do the right thing. [In] one possession, they wind up with a 3. So that’s a part of the work-in-progress.”

The Thunder (24-24) played Monday night without the NBA’s reigning MVP, Kevin Durant, who sat out because of a toe injury.

But Westbrook dominated without Durant on the floor.

The Magic could not stop Westbrook off the dribble or when he got out in transition. Orlando’s attempts to account for Westbrook helped open opportunities for other Thunder players, and Westbrook found them with pinpoint passes.

Dion Waiters added 24 points for Oklahoma City.

The Thunder needed a win. Because of early season injuries to Westbrook and Durant, the Thunder started the season badly — so badly that they would not have qualified for the playoffs if the season had ended Monday.

Oladipo compiled 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists as he returned from a one-game absence due to a sore right Achilles’ tendon.

Nikola Vucevic added 20 points and six rebounds. But Vucevic was held scoreless in the third quarter and fouled out with 5:10 left in the final period.

Tobias Harris scored 18 points, but he was held scoreless during the third quarter.

The Magic (15-36) took a bit of solace from their improved play in the second half.

“Our backs were against the wall,” said backup big man Kyle O’Quinn, who had one of his most productive games in weeks, scoring 11 points and hauling in eight rebounds. “We had nothing to do but play hard, and I think we need to have that same attitude just throughout the game.

“Every day we take steps forward. We’re taking the smallest steps possible, but we need to take a giant step at some point and get over the hump and get a win.”