Pro Sports

Carter, Magic hand Thunder 9th straight loss, 90-85

Posted March 20, 2022 7:00 am

By DICK SCANLON

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Tre Mann (23) and forward Isaiah Roby (22) go for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) The Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Wendell Carter Jr. scored 10 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and the Orlando Magic handed the Oklahoma City Thunder their ninth straight loss with a 90-85 victory Sunday night.

Carter also had 16 rebounds to help the Magic end a three-game losing streak.

Darius Bazley led Oklahoma City with 18 points. The Thunder shot 32.6% and were 13 of 48 from 3-point range.

The Thunder, the NBA's lowest-scoring team (103.1 points per game) and poorest shooting team at 42.6%, were playing without their top three scorers, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who injured his ankle Friday night at Miami.

After 10 quick points by Bazley and a couple of 3-pointers by Tre Mann, the Thunder had a 25-17 lead before going scoreless for the final 3:20 of the first quarter. Orlando scored the final 14 points of the quarter and led 45-43 at halftime.

Three-pointers by Theo Maledon and Vit Krejci helped Oklahoma City close the third quarter with a 9-1 spurt , and the Thunder moved ahead by seven points before going on another scoreless stretch of more than four minutes.

Two free throws by Isaiah Robey with 2:46 left gave the Thunder their last lead, but Franz Wagner and Carter scored on offensive rebounds to put Orlando back ahead.

TIP-INS

Thunder: The Thunder had only nine available players. ... G Kenrich Williams (sprained right knee), C Derrick Favors (sore back) and Gilgeous-Alxeander might be able to play Monday night.

Magic: G Jalen Suggs missed a third straight game with an ankle injury. ... Markelle Fultz was named winner of the Rich & Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award.

UP NEXT

Thunder: Host Boston on Monday night.

Magic: At Golden State on Tuesday night.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (7) drives to the basket in front of Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr., right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) The Associated Press

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley reacts to a missed shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) The Associated Press

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Tre Mann (23) shoots in front of Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) The Associated Press

Orlando Magic forward Chuma Okeke, right, drives to the basket past Oklahoma City Thunder center Olivier Sarr, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) The Associated Press

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