Ibaka leads Magic over Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY -- In his first game back in Oklahoma City, Serge Ibaka scored 31 points, including the game-winning jumper with 0.4 seconds left, to lead the Orlando Magic to a 119-117 victory over his former team Sunday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Ibaka shot 13 of 19 from the field, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked four shots. Elfrid Payton added 23 points while Evan Fournier scored 21 for the Magic.
Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had his third triple-double of the season with 41 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds. It was the first time in two years Oklahoma City lost when Westbrook registered a triple-double.
Oklahoma City center Enes Kanter came off the bench to score 16 points and grab eight rebounds. Andre Roberson scored 14 points to go with four blocked shots.
With the Thunder trailing by six in the fourth quarter, Joffrey Lauvergne began a 10-2 run by hitting back to back 3-pointers to give the Oklah0ma City a 100-98 advantage.
Payton and Lauvergne exchanged 3-pointers before Westbrook nailed a midrange jumper. The Thunder came up with a stop and Westbrook fed Roberson an assist for an easy layup. Oklahoma City led 107-104.
Payton drove down the middle of the lane and was fouled. He missed both free throws. But Fournier tied the game with a 3-pointer on the next possession.
With 2:06 left, Westbrook drained a jumper with Ibaka guarding him. The Thunder then came up with a steal and Victor Oladipo scored on a fastbreak layup to give his team a 113-109 advantage.
Fournier nailed a pair of free throws and the lead was cut to two.
But Westbrook once again scored on Ibaka. Payton answered with a 3-pointer from the corner and the Magic were down 115-114.
The Thunder gave the ball to Westbrook again, and Ibaka fouled him while attempting a 3-pointer. He made 2 of 3 from the foul line and Oklahoma City went up 117-114 with 37 seconds. It didn't last long as Fournier came down and tied the contest with another 3-pointer.
Westbrook tried to put the Thunder ahead with a shot from the free throw line. But it was off and the Magic got the rebound with 11 seconds on the clock.
There was only one person the Magic could go to. They gave the ball to Ibaka, who drove baseline and drilled a short jump shot over two Thunder big men with 0.4 seconds remaining.
Oklahoma City attempted to throw an alley-oop to Westbrook, but he was unable to complete the play to end the game.
Ibaka wasted little time in reminding the Thunder what they gave up when they traded him to Orlando. He hit 6 of his first 8 shots to score 13 first quarter points. He had been averaging only 12 a game on the season.
But Ibaka's biggest presence came on the defensive end. He tallied four blocked shots in the quarter. That included two against Steven Adams on the same possession. Ibaka reacted with his double thumbs down sign.
Orlando led by as much as 21 points in the first half. The Thunder weren't helping themselves by settling for 3-pointers. They made 2 of 12 in the first half alone.
But midway through the second quarter, Westbrook began to turn it on. He began attacking the paint and either scored or was fouled and sent to the foul line.
Oklahoma City cut the lead to 10 by halftime.
Despite the Orlando getting solid contributions from different players besides Ibaka, the energy and activity from Oklahoma City overwhelmed them in the third quarter. The Thunder outscored the Magic 37-25 to take a two point lead into the fourth quarter.
NOTES: When the starting lineup for the Orlando Magic was announced, former Thunder forward Serge Ibaka was given a loud, standing ovation by Oklahoma City fans. Ibaka played seven seasons with the Thunder before being traded to the Magic. "This is the only place he's ever played," Orlando coach Frank Vogel said. "To come back here is certainly emotional for him." ... Thunder coach Billy Donovan said he never thinks about the time he was the Orlando coach for one day before going back to Florida. "I've kind of rehashed that in the media with different people," Donovan said. "But right now, no. I tried to handle the situation the best I could. I said I took responsibility for that. There is nothing Orlando did." For the second straight game, forward Jeff Green was inserted into the Orlando starting lineup over Aaron Gordon as Vogel moves toward using more veterans. ... Ibaka is not the only former Thunder who now plays for the Magic. Forward Jeff Green and guard D.J. Augustin also spent time in Oklahoma City.