Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to lead the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113-105 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.
The Thunder clinched their ninth consecutive playoff spot with the victory, becoming the first team this season to do so.
Chet Holmgren added 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Thunder, while Ajay Mitchell was the only other Oklahoma City player in double figures with 16.
All five Orlando starters finished in double figures, led by Paolo Banchero, who scored 32 points and added a team-best 10 rebounds. Desmond Bane added 17 points.
The Magic have dropped back-to-back games after winning seven straight.
After scuffling a bit offensively in the first half, going just 4 of 12 from the field, Gilgeous-Alexander exploded in the third.
The reigning Most Valuable Player had his biggest scoring quarter of the season, scoring 19 of Oklahoma City’s 34 points.
The Magic led 77-70 with less than five minutes to go in the third when the Thunder began a 15-2 run to end the quarter and regain the lead. Gilgeous-Alexander had seven points during the stretch while Orlando hit just one of its last 10 shots in the frame.
But the Magic, even playing on the second night of a back-to-back, weren’t going down quietly.
Orlando reeled off nine consecutive points early in the fourth to jump back in front. Bane’s 3-pointer with 8:21 remaining gave the hosts a 91-90 lead.
Coming out of a timeout, Oklahoma City answered with an 8-0 run of its own, with five quick points from Mitchell before Isaiah Joe’s 3-pointer put the Thunder up 97-90.
The Magic were within three with less than 3:30 remaining before a strong close from Gilgeous-Alexander to put the game away.
After going scoreless in the fourth to that point, Gilgeous-Alexander scored seven quick points. In the midst of Gilgeous-Alexander’s outburst, Alex Caruso added a layup off his own steal and the Thunder stretched their lead to 10.
The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player produced a season-low two assists, but equaled his season high with four steals.
With about four minutes to go in the second quarter, Caruso lost his shoe on the defensive end and picked it up.
Caruso came over to help on guard Tristan de Silva’s drive to the basket, reaching up with his hand — and his shoe — to swat de Silva’s shot.
De Silva was awarded the basket and Caruso called for a technical foul.
–Field Level Media
