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Denton: Magic vs. Thunder Analysis (2/7/14)

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By John Denton Feb. 7, 2014

ORLANDO – When he and his Orlando Magic teammates are trying to simulate tense, game-ending situations in practice, Tobias Harris usually has a joke that elicits hearty laughter.

``I’m always the guy who says, `If you need a game-winner, throw it to me!’’’ Harris recalled with a chuckle.

But not even the ultra-confident Harris could have envisioned just how his game-winner would unfold Friday night for the surging Magic against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

All in the matter of a blurred 2.9 seconds, Victor Oladipo outfought two foes for a loose ball, passed ahead to Maurice Harkless, who somewhat shockingly flipped the ball back to a trailing Harris, who dunked as time expired. The frenetic final sequence – one that typified the kind of selfless play Orlando exhibited all night – gave the Magic a pulsating 103-102 victory that had the Amway Center crowd throbbing with raw emotion.

``It was good to get out there and back (his practice prediction) up and get the win,’’ a relieved Harris said well after the shocking victory.

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