Thunder Looks To Shake Road Woes Against Orlando

Oklahoma City looks to snap its six-game road losing streak Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.

The Thunder (8-11) proved it could be a dangerous team by destroying the Warriors on Thanksgiving eve. Since, OKC lost a double-digit lead to the Pistons and then got blown out in Dallas to the Mavs. The latter saw Paul George go 1-of-12 from the field while the team shot just 36 percent overall.

“Every game there’s something we have to figure out that we haven’t done yet,” George said today, as the Thunder practiced in Orlando. “Once we get that down, this team will start to click. It’s already great that we gel, we all get along, love being in this fight together.”

The Magic (8-13) is a mess right now, having lost nine straight. Fourth-year forward Aaron Gordon is having a breakout season averaging 17.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game and elevating his three-point percentage to 43 percent. Frontcourt veteran Nikola Vucevic adds 16.5 ppg and 8.5 boards and wing Evan Fournier brings 17.8 points per night.

The problem for Orlando isn’t on offense, though. The Magic ranks 10th in scoring at 107.3 per game but is just 28th defensively, giving up 111 on average. Over the past nine games, Orlando has allowed an atrocious 117.4 points per game.

The 2017 sixth-overall pick, Jonathan Isaac, remains out with an ankle injury. George is the only Thunder player on the injury report; he’s expected to play tonight despite an illness.

A three-game “revenge” homestand awaits the Thunder starting Friday against Minnesota, followed by San Antonio on Sunday and Utah next Tuesday.