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OKLAHOMA CITY — The Thunder entered Tuesday’s contest against the Magic averaging a league-leading 120.3 points per night.
Their defensive rating (105.8) as well as their net rating (plus-12.1) were both best in the NBA.
So when Orlando stepped onto the court inside Paycom Center during its lone trip of the regular season to Oklahoma City, it was more of the same problems that quickly piled up for Jamahl Mosley‘s squad.
The Magic fell behind 39-14 after the first 12 minutes of the game, were outrebounded 52-38 and gave up 60 points in the paint to a Thunder team that averaged 51.4 paint points per night.
That’s not to mention the 28 points the defending champs scored off 16 Orlando turnovers on their way to a 128-92 victory, the team’s 22nd at home this season.
“I mean, we’ve been losing to everybody,” Anthony Black told the Orlando Sentinel in the locker room after the 36-point loss. “So, you can say, ‘The Thunder is the Thunder,’ if you want to — we’re losing to everybody.”
The first quarter specifically has continued to cause issues for the Magic, which has left them facing deep deficits similar to Tuesday’s game at Oklahoma City (40-11) and two days earlier at San Antonio (33-16).
Orlando averages 28.8 points per first quarter per night, a scoring mark that ranks 20th league-wide.
“That’s been the case not just the last two games but most of the season,” Paolo Banchero told the Sentinel. “So, it’s something that we’ve got to try to address. We keep saying we’ve got to figure it out but it’s not getting figured out so it’s tough. It’s frustrating.”
Added Desmond Bane: “We’ve got to understand the task at hand and come out with a better approach.”
Falling down early over and over again begins to take a toll on the team’s mentality. As does the inconsistent play of the past two months.
The Magic had gone 12-16 since Dec. 3, a stretch during which Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management) was only available for five games.
“Not the best,” Banchero said when asked in the locker room how he’d evaluate the team’s mindset following Tuesday’s loss. “We’re not where we want to be. We’re losing more than we’re winning. I wouldn’t say we’re in a good spot.”
With the NBA trade deadline set for 3 p.m. Thursday, the window to make a change to Orlando’s roster is closing quickly for Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman.
The franchise, which hasn’t made an in-season trade since February 2023, enters the deadline roughly $5.6 million above the league’s luxury tax threshold.
Late Tuesday, No. 5 Cleveland (30-21), which sat four games above No. 8 Orlando (25-24) entering Wednesday, reportedly agreed to swap two-time All-Star guard Darius Garland and future second-round pick for eight-time All-NBA guard James Harden from the Clippers.
Earlier in the day, No. 3 Boston (32-18) landed former Magic center Nikola Vucevic and a future second-round pick from Chicago in exchange for Orlando native Anfernee Simons (Edgewater High) and a future second-round pick.
“I’m not really paying too much attention to it,” Banchero said about the trade deadline. “Obviously, other teams are making trades and stuff. I don’t know since I’ve been here that we’ve done anything at the trade deadline so I’m not really too concerned or too worried about the trade deadline.
“I don’t think anyone on the team is worried about it,” he added.
While any potential move is out of his hands, Banchero is a believer in the current version of the Magic, who are still operating with a standard contract roster spot open as of Wednesday.
“Absolutely, yeah,” he said when asked if he thinks Orlando has enough to talent to salvage its season. “We’re a very talented team. Obviously we’re not winning as much as we would like to, so talent really doesn’t mean anything.
“But as far as just on-paper, our talent, yeah, I think we have enough,” he added.
Regardless of what happens at the deadline, the Magic enter a crucial stretch before next weekend’s NBA All-Star break.
After playing four of its past five on the road, Orlando returns to Kia Center for its next four in a row, starting Thursday night against Brooklyn (13-36).
“It’s a great opportunity for us,” Bane said. “Four home games, you get a chance to get back to Orlando, get some sunshine, get a couple good practices in and four games that are very winnable. If we go and handle our business over those next few, it’ll put us in position to have some momentum going into All-Star break.”
Added Banchero: “Definitely want to go into the break with some momentum, win those games at home and just leave off on a good note before the break. Those will be important games for us.”
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Magic vs. Nets
When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Kia Center
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida