Thunder rout short-handed Magic 102-74

By JEFF LATZKE, AP Sports Writer Nov 8, 10:38 pm EST

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—Stan Van Gundy doesn’t care how many players the Orlando Magic are missing. He still wants the rest to give their best.

Kevin Durant(notes) scored 28 points, Russell Westbrook(notes) added 17 points and 10 assists and the Oklahoma City Thunder ran away from the defending Eastern Conference champions in the second half Sunday night for a 102-74 victory.

“We’re not a good basketball team right now. I’ve been saying that, but nobody’s listening,” Van Gundy said. “We’re totally predicated on shooting. We do not have any kind of defensive mindset, we don’t have much toughness and we’re not very smart. So, right now we’re not a very good team.”

The Magic played for the fourth time this season without All-Stars Vince Carter(notes) (ankle) and Rashard Lewis(notes) (suspension), and also added Ryan Anderson(notes) (ankle) to their injured list. After a strong start, Orlando fell behind midway through the second quarter and never mounted a comeback.

“That’s a team that plays with great intensity. I would like to see our team play with that,” Van Gundy said. “We’ve had teams in the past the last couple years that have played with that. We don’t now. We play very soft and not with much intensity. Quite honestly, until that changes, we’re going to have a lot more games like that.”

Oklahoma City raced out of halftime to score the first eight points, and then added a 9-0 spurt shortly thereafter to push its lead to 72-49 on Nick Collison’s(notes) basket in the lane midway through the third period.

The Thunder removed any doubt with a run of 10 straight points in the fourth quarter, and coach Scott Brooks pulled the last of his starters after Durant’s three-point play pushed the lead to 96-63 with just under 5 minutes remaining.

“All things were clicking for us tonight, especially on the defensive end,” Durant said. “We’ve got to build on that and come back to work tomorrow.”

Dwight Howard(notes) led the Magic with 20 points, Mickael Pietrus(notes) scored 15 and Jameer Nelson(notes) 10. Orlando shot just 37 percent and couldn’t take advantage of a hefty advantage at the foul line, making just 21 of 34 attempts. The Magic drew 29 fouls against the Thunder while committing just 17.

After taking an early lead on the strength of Howard’s inside presence, Orlando failed to score 20 points in any of the final three quarters and fell well short of its scoring average of 108.7 points—the third-highest mark in the NBA.

“Teams that play hard have a chance to get a lot better,” Van Gundy said. “They’re playing a lot harder at the defensive end of the floor than they did last year. We’re playing a lot less hard, and so they’re a lot better and we’re a lot worse.”

Nenad Krstic(notes) had 14 points and Thabo Sefolosha(notes) added 13 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which shot 57 percent and went 9-for-16 from 3-point range while outrebounding Orlando 45-30. The Thunder came in shooting just 30 percent on 3-pointers.

“We’re not a big volume 3-point shooting team, but I think as we continue to grow and evolve that we have to put that in our game,” Brooks said.

Westbrook, Durant and Sefolosha connected on consecutive 3-pointers as Oklahoma City wiped away a four-point deficit and started to build a lead late in the first half. Sefolosha drilled another 3 and Durant followed it with a steal that led to a right-handed jam, and he stopped to pose for a moment after scoring the Thunder’s seventh straight point.

“I call him Sniper now,” Durant said of Sefolosha, who was 3-for-3 from 3-point range. “He’s starting to hit the long-range 3-ball a lot. That’s going to add another dimension to our team: a guy that they can’t help off of too much.”

Notes: Brandon Bass(notes) started in place of Anderson, who sprained his right ankle in the third quarter of Orlando’s win at Detroit on Friday night. … Krstic dislocated his left pinkie finger midway through the first quarter but returned to play. … In his only visit to the Ford Center last year, Howard had 30 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks against the Thunder for his first career triple-double. “It’s virtually impossible to get 10 blocks in a game, so that’s really what stands out. I’ve seen him get 20-plus rebounds and score points, but 10 blocks is what stands out to me about that game last year,” Van Gundy said.

Updated Nov 8, 10:38 pm EST
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60 Comments

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  1. Steven
    59. Posted by Steven Mon Nov 9 9:52pm EST

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    Number 58 stop smoking crack.
  2. M-$HEA
    58. Posted by M-$HEA Mon Nov 9 8:16pm EST

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    What the @#$% ever, we started off 0-2 last year and it seemed like all had been lost and we went onto the NBA Finals. This team has many veterans that will begin to gel together as the season progresses and the defense will then improve significantly. Look out for the Magic with our lineup as Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Ryan Anderson, and Dwight. We will be killin people when our best veterans get on the floor. As for the Thunder, get ready to get mobbed when you come to Orlando with all our starters ready next wednesday. NEVER underestimate the heart of the Eastern Conference Champs! GO MAGIC!
  3. Steven
    57. Posted by Steven Mon Nov 9 6:19pm EST

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    no i got a better one you could play stan van gundy's lover .
  4. Steven
    56. Posted by Steven Mon Nov 9 6:16pm EST

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    paching is ok that your magic will never win a championship but don't cry because i just got a call from the director of brokeback mountain and he said you would be perfect for part 2 to play tom cruise's lover.
  5. SteveJ
    55. Posted by SteveJ Mon Nov 9 5:56pm EST

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    As a huge Thunder fan, that game was a new feeling altogether. That was the first game since the move here that felt like we could be a really good team. Last year, we would build a big lead only to give it all back. That never even felt like it was gonna happen last night. It was a total team effort and really showed what these guys can do as they mature. Thunder Up!
  6. LAallday
    54. Posted by LAallday Mon Nov 9 5:47pm EST

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    hahaha who's this joke tryin to talk up the cavs???
  7. MartzMimic
    53. Posted by MartzMimic Mon Nov 9 4:20pm EST

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    When the Magic kicked the Thunder last year when they were without Durant, nobody seemed to make a big deal of it. Would the game last night have been closer with Carter and Lewis in the lineup? Sure. Might the Magic have won? Sure. The thing is, injuries and suspensions are part of the game. You play with what you've got and let the chips fall where they may. What's lost in all the talk about who's not playing is that the Thunder has become a much better team defensively. And that's not based solely on last night. They will lose some games they shouldn't, but they're going to win some that they shouldn't too. Last night was one of those cases, and Oklahoma City was simply a buzz saw on the court.
  8. <i>cavslandrocks</i>
    52. Posted by cavslandrocks Mon Nov 9 2:54pm EST

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    oh and BTW paching chronological order would be a timeline, NOT a best to worst or worst to best ranking
  9. <i>cavslandrocks</i>
    51. Posted by cavslandrocks Mon Nov 9 2:51pm EST

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    @paching....ORL defense=25th..CLE=14th...Offense..ORL=8th...CLE=23...your team scores 9 points /game more than CLE and gives up 10 points more than CLE....we'll see on Wed which team is better...and NO EXCUSES about injuries and officiating....you play the hand you're dealt....win or lose I'll be here to comment....How many ORL "fans" will show up if the Magic lose?
  10. Smokin Joe Fraze
    50. Posted by Smokin Joe Fraze Mon Nov 9 2:11pm EST

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    @cavslandrocks, Pietrus is better than Lee right now, maybe in a a few more years that will change but that's not the point because right now Pietrus is the better overall player and by a pretty decent margin. Alston is a better defender than Jameer but that's it. Alston is an awful shooter, takes way too many shots and is always looking to shoot first pass second. That may work on a team that needs scorers but he Magic don't need anymore scorers especially not Rafer. Jameer is easily better than Alston. Hedo I would've liked to keep however not for a 5 year $56-$58 mill deal. We have Rashard for 4 more years so adding a 30 year old Hedo for 5 years when he only has 2-3 great years left would absolutely cripple the Magic. VC's 2 year contract was a much better fit and if not for Devon Harris and his out of control style of basketball VC's ankle would be fine right now. I find it odd that you would bring up VC's injuries considering he's missed a TOTAL of 11 games in the past 4 years. He's been anything but injury prone.

    Magic's front office did a sign and trade for Hedo which brought us a $9 mill trade exception. A trade for DVC and Anderson for Lee, Alston and Battie. Waited for Dallas to make an offer on Gortat, knowing they wouldn't be able to match our offer on Bass and then we turned around and matched their offer on Gortat. Signed Barnes and J. Williams. It's been widely said that the Magic made BY FAR the best aquisitions this off season. The Cavs on the other hand... 37 year old Shaq, 34 year old Parker and J. Moon? Cavs need a new head coach and to fix that roster. Anderson and Shaq are both backups that are starting.
  11. JShay
    49. Posted by JShay Mon Nov 9 2:09pm EST

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    Turk was gone the minute the playoffs were over. He said as much in the interview room right after the final game with the Lakers. The Magic will be fine. Long season... don't get your panties in a wad people. Geez.
  12. Paching
    48. Posted by Paching Mon Nov 9 2:01pm EST

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    I'm already over it steve, and the worst teams in cronological order (that means worse to least worse) are New Jersey, Memphis, Minnesota..o and Cleveland. "Empire state of mind" steve,watch and weep! Haha
  13. Philosopher Jay
    47. Posted by Philosopher Jay Mon Nov 9 2:01pm EST

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    It's really nothing to worry about. The Magic were missing two of their three all-star players and the third one had an off-night. When two of their three all-stars are playing, they can beat everyone except for Boston, Phoenix and L.A. When all three play, no team can touch them.
    Look for them to win 72 games this year.
  14. ise
    46. Posted by ise Mon Nov 9 1:56pm EST

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    where is VC? hahahahaha. You trade Turk right?
  15. <i>cavslandrocks</i>
    45. Posted by cavslandrocks Mon Nov 9 1:50pm EST

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    @ Smokin Joe...the morons are in the Magic front office...after all they are the ones who traded Turk, Lee, Rafer...right?...they would have done much better keeping Turk and picking up Bass...I'm willing to say that Carter misses at least 25 games this year...NOT a good deal
  16. <i>cavslandrocks</i>
    44. Posted by cavslandrocks Mon Nov 9 1:43pm EST

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    ORL fans..your team is 25th of thirty teams on defense...you are being out shot (% wise) by the league everywhere except the FT line...when SVG says your defense sucks he isn't kidding...your rebounding is dead even and your blocks (+.85) and steals (-.71)per game basically cancel each other out.
  17. Smokin Joe Fraze
    43. Posted by Smokin Joe Fraze Mon Nov 9 1:10pm EST

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    Missing 3 starters, 2 of them All-Stars, 2 of them play the same position (PF) and are of the Magic's best shooters. Not having Rashard or Anderson at the 4 spot completely eliminates the threat of the 3 ball. Not to mention the defense Rashard brings. Not having a PF that can shoot the 3 is a huge hinderence for Orlando because it eliminates the 4-out-1-in offensive set they run.

    Remove Kobe, Pau and Artest from the Lakers and see if they defeat a full strength Thunder. Oh wait that matchup already happened and the Thunder took the Lakers to overtime and LA was only missing Pau. You already know the outcome of that game if LA was missing even 1 more of their stars in either Kobe, Odom or Artest.

    Have Boston play the Thunder without KG, Sheed and Pierce. Outcome is the same. Some of you people are morons.
  18. <i>adrian_coria787</i>
    42. Posted by adrian_coria787 Mon Nov 9 12:44pm EST

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    how does such a good and deep team lose to the thunder? i know the thunder are getting better but the magic should've been able to beat them even though there short handed
  19. Jose
    41. Posted by Jose Mon Nov 9 11:19am EST

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    DAAAAAAMN! this aint right.
  20. Mike
    40. Posted by Mike Mon Nov 9 11:16am EST

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    I Agree, Dont sleep on the THUNDER. I was at the THUNDER/LAKER game tuesday @ the FORD Center in OKC and me being a long time LAKER fan, I will say the LAKERS had there hands full. they won only by 3 in overtime. yeah a W is a W and the THUNDER had many chance to win. They are a young team and are building, the LAKERS how ever are very seasoned and barely hang on to that win. give them some time and I see Big things for the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER!!!

    Fulker out...........
  21. Steven
    39. Posted by Steven Mon Nov 9 9:26am EST

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    get over it paching and all the magic fans they lost to the worst team in the nba by 30 points.i think now they are the worst team in the nba, you actually think they are gonna win a championship this year? yeah right and cleveland would never lose to a team like this. just face it the magic will never be good enough to win a championship because they suck.
  22. BrOncoz
    38. Posted by BrOncoz Mon Nov 9 8:56am EST

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    no big deal. it was sunday and magic were without vince..when rashard comes back theyll be fine
  23. Smitty
    37. Posted by Smitty Mon Nov 9 7:41am EST

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    That is pathetic. How many millions of dollars do these guys make and they score 74 points. Sure hope this isn't going to be a common occurence. My Bucs and Noles suck I need something to be proud of. Hoping the MAGIC will be my sports savior.
  24. Derrick R
    36. Posted by Derrick R Mon Nov 9 7:40am EST

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    LAst time I checked, Dwight HOward is the franchise player of the Orlando Magic. Saying that, there's no excuse in the world that they got humiliated by the OKC Thunders. When will Magics fans realize that Howard is overrated. He's got a lot of improving to do. Offensively that is. The guy just doesn't have a low post move besides a dunk. No jumpshots, no free throws. You guys will sure miss Hedo in the playoffs. He was the guy who beat the Cavs. And Alston too.
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Top Performers

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 Orlando
D. Howard Dwight Howard
5-10,  20 Pts
7 Rebs, 0 Assists
 Oklahoma City
K. Durant Kevin Durant
11-17,  28 Pts
4 Rebs, 5 Assists

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