Maledon’s 25 points help Thunder top Magic, end 10-game skid
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Theo Maledon scored 17 of his season-high 25 points in the fourth quarter and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Orlando Magic 118-102 on Wednesday night to snap a 10-game losing streak.
Tre Mann and Isaiah Roby each scored 21 for the Thunder in a matchup between two of the NBA’s worst teams. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City’s top scorer this season, sat out with a sore right ankle. He has averaged 30.4 points and 7.3 assists on 54% shooting since the All-Star break.
Chuma Okeke scored 19 points and Cole Anthony added 17 for the Magic.
Orlando led 34-26 at the end of the first quarter, but Oklahoma City outscored the Magic 20-2 to start the second. During that stretch, Oklahoma City’s Olivier Sarr was called for a flagrant-1 foul for a hard box out on R.J. Hampton, and Hampton got a technical for complaining about Sarr’s contact.
After Hampton’s free throws, the Thunder scored 13 straight points to take a 46-36 lead. Oklahoma City led 60-53 at the break.
The Thunder led 84-74 at the end of the third after holding the Magic to 7-for-22 shooting in the period.
A lob from Roby to Sarr for a dunk put the Thunder up 93-77 early in the fourth, and Maledon’s offense kept them in control.
TIP-INS
Magic: Rookie G Jalen Suggs missed his fifth straight game while managing a left knee injury. He averages 12.1 points per game. ... C Mo Bamba had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Thunder: Before the opening tip, G Josh Giddey received a trophy for being selected the Western Conference rookie of the month for February. In 10 games, he averaged 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists. He has won the award four straight months. He sat out with a right hip injury. ... Mann scored 14 points in the first quarter. ... G Vit Krejci had 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Magic: Host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
Thunder: At the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.