The Orlando Magic provided their fans at the Amway Center everything they could have wanted in a finish, just not the desired result or progress.
The Orlando Magic had a sold out Amway Center crowd primed to celebrate the first win of the season. Over a major opponent in Oklahoma City Thunder with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
It was the turning point the Magic needed at home to show their fan base this season would be different. It was the big moment for the team.
And then it wasn’t.
Much like Wednesday’s season opener, the Magic failed to finish. The 18-point lead entering the fourth quarter dissipated as Russell Westbrook led an onslaught on his way to 47 points.
His killing blow was a 38-foot 3-pointer at the regulation buzzer. The Magic fought back in the first overtime with Victor Oladipo beating the buzzer on a 3-pointer to force a second overtime.
Oklahoma City, which trailed for the entire game, took control and held on for a 139-136 win at Amway Center.
“It’s a tough loss to take,” Tobias Harris said. “We put ourselves in position to win the game and we came up short. Obviously it’s discouraging because it’s two nights in a row. We just have to stay positive and take the positive out of the game and keep moving forward. It was our game, it was right there for us, and we let it slip away.”
The Magic sit at 0-2 when they very much could and should be 2-0. Orlando held a five-point lead with two minutes to play Wednesday in the opener against Washington. That followed losing an 18-point lead to start the fourth quarter and a 10-point lead with about three minutes to play.
It has been a recurring theme for many years now with the Magic. They just have not been able to close games.
This time the loss was catastrophic, but came in a classic. There were only two lead changes, but the final moments of the game were among the most exciting and exhilarating of anything the NBA could offer.
Victor Oladipo recorded a triple double, his second of his career. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 91 points together. Fans got their money’s worth at the Amway Center.
They just needed to see a win. The Magic have provided two glimmers of hope but ultimately have disappointed as the team continues to struggle to find its way forward.
There is no one to blame but the players for losing such a large lead at home and going away from the play that helped them build the lead. This is a team still learning and discovering its identity.
It is costing them regular season games in the process. Even if they are incredibly entertaining ones in the end.
For complete coverage of this game, please visit Orlando Magic Daily.
