Broadcast Information
- Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. CT
- Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma
- Radio: WWLS the Sports Animal and the Thunder Radio Network
While the rest of America was huddled around their televisions to tune into Super Bowl on Sunday evening, the Thunder family was together too. On a jet, 36,000 feet above the Earth’s surface, Thunder players, coaches and staff were on their way back from its east coast swing.
In between reviewing film, statistics and strategy, guys caught a glimpse of the big game from up in the air, but as soon as the team touched down, it’s focus turned to facing a very recent foe. One of the teams the Thunder played on its most recent 2-1 road swing, the Orlando Magic, comes to Oklahoma City exactly one week after the Thunder’s 126-117 victory down in central Florida last Tuesday.
In that game, the Magic snagged 18 defensive rebounds and launched 41 three-point attempts. While the Thunder’s win in Orlando was one in a stretch of seven-straight victories, the road trip concluded with a 134-129 loss to the Boston Celtics. Even against an extraordinarily talented squad like Boston, scoring 129 points should be enough for victory. That’s why in this rematch with Orlando here at Chesapeake Energy Arena, Head Coach Billy Donovan’s club wants to get back to its core identity.
“Our defense wasn’t nearly what it has been and can be and should be for us,” said Donovan. “We’ve gotta be able to get back to defend at the level we had been previously.”
“Everything is just more effort. More energy,” said forward Paul George. “We gotta scramble around. We gotta play throughout the whole shot clock.”
Part of the reason the Thunder struggled defensively against Boston is something that any opponent will face if it is giving up driving lanes to the paint: split-second decision-making about when and how to help. With playmakers like former Thunder guard D.J. Augustin and dynamic scoring wings in Aaron Gordon and Terrence Ross, the Magic present some challenges in terms of staying in front of the ball. In order to prevent drive-and-kicks that lead to open catch-and-shoot three-pointers, the Thunder will need to be quick and assertive with its rotations so that Orlando can’t get into a flow.
“You’ve gotta really make decisions on the perimeter when you’re guarding people. Do I need to help? Or do I need to build back towards my man?” Donovan asked rhetorically.
“When guys get open looks, they get a good rhythm. Make or miss, they get a good rhythm,” George noted.
The first game back after a long road trip can in its own way feel like an extension of that travel. Tuesday will be the Thunder’s fourth game in as many cities in a 7-day span, and it’ll be important to bring not just physical energy but also the mental stamina and focus to compete for 48 minutes. In these situations, against a team that the Thunder has a talent and athleticism edge against the difference will come down to the details.
“The physicality without fouling is a big piece,” noted Donovan.
“You just gotta play for 24 seconds in the shot clock,” added guard Dennis Schröder. “When you don’t do that, you’re not in good shape to win the game.”
Despite some road weary legs, the Thunder will need to be precise in how it defends the ball, and then help out on the back side with cohesion to come away with stops.
SHOOTAROUND NOTES
- The Thunder had its best offensive month in history in January and so far in the month of February it has scored 118 and 129 points, respectively. Tonight against the Magic the Thunder will look to continue playing fast, pulling the ball out of the net quickly and fast breaking before the Magic’s defense can get set. The Thunder is humming right now, and wants to keep it rolling.
- “We’ve just been in a good groove, a good rhythm. We’ve been playing fast,” said George. “Our chemistry has just been awesome.”
- The catalyst for the Thunder’s offense has been Russell Westbrook, who is coming off a stretch of six-straight triple-doubles, for 19 this season and he’s now just 15 shy of tying Magic Johnson for second all-time in triple-doubles. The impact he’s having on his teammates, including MVP candidate Paul George, has been massive.
- “(Westbrook) makes the game so much easier a lot of times,” said George. “He play so hard and exerts so much energy on creating offense for everybody else.”
- “He’s going to be one of the best teammates I’ve ever had,” George added. “He’s just a person that is 100 all the time… Russ is Russ every second, every minute. He’s just an awesome teammate. An awesome brother to have around you and he’s loyal. He’s going to have your back.”
NEWS & NOTES
- - Forward Abdel Nader missed Sunday’s game due to illness and is listed as questionable for tonight’s game. For Orlando, center Mo Bamba is listed as out, while Jonathan Simmons is questionable. Unlike the last time these teams played, the Thunder will have Steven Adams and Terrance Ferguson available.
- “It’ll be a different matchup for sure with our guys being healthy this go-round. We still have the same job, the same thing to do,” said George. “Orlando is a team that can come in and beat us if we’re not prepared tonight.”
- Jerami Grant had his most productive month of the season in January, averaging 14.4 points on 49.7 percent shooting (34.0 percent from three) in addition to 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. In so many different ways, Grant has been an ideal fit with this Thunder starting unit. Even a teammate like George has gushed about Grant’s impact.
- “JG is just a guy that you can plug him anywhere,” said George. “He’s ideal for a team that is playing up tempo and wants to play fast, and defensively a guy you can put him anywhere position-wise and he can guard and match up. I think he’s perfect for this team and he’s like the prototype of player you want on your team. He can do a lot. He can handle it, he can shoot it. He can make plays. He can attack, finish at the top. He does a lot for this team, and he’s really like our x-factor.”