Magic at Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder look to start a new winning streak when they host the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. Oklahoma City had a seven-game winning streak halted Sunday, when it fell 134-129 to the host Boston Celtics.
Thunder All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook has rattled off six straight triple-doubles and has 19 on the season after recording 22 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds in the loss to Boston. Westbrook and All-Star forward Paul George have fueled the offense to a high level of play as the squad had topped 120 points in nine of the last 12 contests. Orlando posted back-to-back victories over the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets after losing seven of its previous eight games. "You have to play good to win games, and it's that simple," Magic shooting guard Evan Fournier told reporters of his club's quest to get back into the playoff mix. "We just have to play this way for the remainder of the season, no matter who is in front of us."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Florida, FS Oklahoma
ABOUT THE MAGIC (22-31): Fournier saw good signs from his squad during Saturday's 102-89 win over the Nets, namely that the lapses that frequently hurt Orlando were nowhere to be found. "I thought the focus was better and it felt like we played with a purpose for 48 minutes," Fournier told reporters."In previous games, we've had good stretches and then for five or six minutes we're just not doing the things that we should do - not playing the right way and forgetting assignments - but I thought the focus was really good." All-Star center Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 12 rebounds against Brooklyn for his fourth straight double-double and 36th of the season.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (33-19): Defensive issues cost Oklahoma City in the loss to Boston as the Celtics shot 59.3 percent from the field and topped 30 points in every quarter. "There were times we did a good job and times we didn't," Thunder coach Billy Donovan told reporters. "I didn't think we did it long enough and well enough over a 48-minute period. Every time we got close, they made some really, really good plays, made some big shots. You have to give them credit too. I think our defense wasn't nearly what it has been and can be and should be for us." George scored 37 points and has topped 30 in seven of the past eight games while averaging 34.3 points during the stretch.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Thunder won 12 of the past 15 meetings, including a 126-117 road win on Jan. 29.
2. Oklahoma City backup G Dennis Schroder scored 16 points against Boston and reached double digits in eight straight games.
3. Orlando rookie C Mo Bamba (leg) could return after a one-game absence while SF Jonathon Simmons (abdominal) could miss his third straight game.