So much went right on the final play for a Magic team that has now won four games in a row at the Amway Center and five of the last six at home. First, Orlando got the league’s hottest scorer, Kevin Durant, to miss a 17-foot shot with 4.9 seconds to play. Oladipo used his left hand to snag the long rebound and keep it away from Jeremy Lamb and Thabo Sefolosha. He wisely looked ahead and saw Harkless for what looked like would be a winning layup. Harkless felt his momentum carrying him under the backboard so he shoveled the ball to a streaking Harris for a two-handed dunk that left his hands with one-tenth of a second. Referees reviewed the final play and ruled it good, much to the delight of the joyous Magic.
Said Oladipo, who screamed `This is our court! This is our court!’ to the crowd after the fabulous finish: ``K.D. got a great look that he normally makes and it came off long. I just know that there was somebody right next to me trying to get the same ball and I had to do what it took to get it, really. I had to turn on the jets and it was just will. … I passed it to Mo and I thought he was going to shoot the layup, and when he throws it back, I’m like, `Who is he throwing it to?’ Tobias dunked it and luckily we got it in time. It was a gutsy play.’’
Joked Harris: ``I was a little bit (surprised by Harkless’ pass). I was running down there and I was about ready to congratulate Mo and he gave it to me. I was happy it went in and it all worked out for us.’’
Added Magic coach Jacque Vaughn: ``For Vic to come up with that loose ball, those are just me versus you and who’s going to get it (plays). Very impressive by him. And (Harris’ hustle) is just the competitive spirit. He was going to out-run whoever was next to him. And he was going to get to the rim and try to make a play for his team.’’
Harris led the Magic (15-37) with 18 points, while Arron Afflalo chipped in 16 points. Oladipo played the entire fourth quarter and finished with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists. Glen ``Big Baby’’ Davis added 14 points on seven of eight shooting and he had one of the biggest defensive plays of the game by drawing a charge with 1:06 to play.
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