SB Nation Tampa Bay - Magic Vs. Thunder: Orlando Falls 97-89 On Christmas Day Opener In Oklahoma Cityhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2011-12-25T22:45:41-05:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24251092011-12-25T22:45:41-05:002011-12-25T22:45:41-05:00Magic Vs. Thunder: Orlando Falls 97-89 In Christmas Day Opener In Oklahoma City
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<p>On a poor shooting night in Oklahoma City, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> lost their season opener to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a> by a final of 97-89. Oklahoma City, the trendy pick to win the Western Conference, was led by MVP candidate <span>Kevin Durant</span> who had 30 points on an efficient 19 attempts from the floor. OKC shot 52% from behind the arc while the Magic were cold for most of the evening, shooting just 29% from three.</p>
<p><span>Ryan Anderson</span> led all Orlando scorers with 25 points. Anderson set the tone for Orlando on the offensive end, scoring six of the Magic's first eight points. He hit six threes and was one of the few Orlando players who got any rhythm going on the offensive end. While <span>Jason Richardson</span> struggled mightily, Anderson led the team with 17 attempts from the floor - not necessarily an indicator for Orlando offensive success.</p>
<p>Center <span>Dwight Howard's</span> Christmas day struggles continued against the Thunder in 2011. Howard, who averages less than eight points a game on Christmas, finished with just 11 points on four of 12 shooting. He also missed five of his eight attempts from the charity stripe.</p>
<p>Orlando, which trailed by as many as 20 points in the second half, fought back to cut it to eight with a minute to play but it would be too little too late. Against one of the best teams in the league, the poor shooting was simply too much to overcome. They have little time to regroup from the loss, as they host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a> Monday night in their home opener on the second night of a back-to-back.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more news, analysis, and discussion on Orlando, visit SB Nation's Magic blog, <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" target="_blank"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Orlando Pinstriped Post</b></a>. Visit SB Nation's Thunder blog, <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" target="_blank"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Welcome to Loud City</b></a>, for the opponent's perspective. For news and notes from around the league, be sure to follow <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub.</a></i></span></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2011/12/25/2661230/christmas-day-2011-magic-vs-thunder-recapBrendan Porath2011-12-25T22:09:42-05:002011-12-25T22:09:42-05:00Magic Vs. Thunder Score Update: Oklahoma City Extends Lead To 18 Points After Three Quarters
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> extended their lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> to 18 points in the third quarter of their Christmas night opener. MVP candidate <span>Kevin Durant</span> has 22 points through the first three quarters, leading an OKC team that is absolutely on fire from behind the arc. The Thunder are shooting 58% from the floor and 47% from three as they built a comfortable Christmas day lead.</p>
<p><span>Dwight Howard's</span> Christmas day struggles have persisted so far in Oklahoma City. The All Star center has averaged just 7.7 points per game on Christmas, and after a quiet third quarter he has just nine points. He's been effective on the glass, grabbing 13 boards, but has simply been unable to get any offensive momentum going. Things got a little chippy at the end of the third, when Nazr Mohhamed was t'd up for shoving Howard off the ball.</p>
<p><span>Jameer Nelson</span> had a solid third quarter and leads the Magic with 16 points but Orlando will need to get hot from deep to climb back into it with only 12 minutes to go.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more news, analysis, and discussion on Orlando, visit SB Nation's Magic blog, <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" target="_blank"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Orlando Pinstriped Post</b></a>. Visit SB Nation's Thunder blog, <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" target="_blank"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Welcome to Loud City</b></a>, for the opponent's perspective. For news and notes from around the league, be sure to follow <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub.</a></i></span></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2011/12/25/2661198/christmas-day-2011-magic-vs-thunder-score-update-third-quarterBrendan Porath2011-12-25T21:22:10-05:002011-12-25T21:22:10-05:00Magic Vs. Thunder Score Update: Orlando Goes Cold And Falls Behind By 14 In The Second Quarter
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<p>After a poor shooting second quarter, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> trail the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> 55-41 at half at Chesapeake Energy Center. After a <span>Hedo Turkoglu</span> three pointer gave the Magic a 21-18 lead in the first quarter, Oklahoma City took control in the final three minutes of the first and then built their lead to as many as 14 points in the second.</p>
<p>Orlando evenly distributed the scoring among the starting five. All Star center <span>Dwight Howard</span> nearly had a double-double in the first half, finishing with eight points and nine rebounds. Howard has managed to stay out of foul trouble through the first two quarters, committing only one foul. In addition to Howard, Turkoglu and <span>Jameer Nelson</span> also added eight points each, while <span>Ryan Anderson</span> led all Magic scorers with nine. Anderson led off the game scoring a quick six points but came back down to earth in the second quarter.</p>
<p><span>Glen Davis</span> had an inauspicious debut for Orlando. Big Baby committed three fouls in just nine minutes but also managed to chuck up seven attempts from the field in those nine minutes. He hit only two shots.</p>
<p>Orlando is shooting just 31% from behind the arc which will have to improve if they are to make this a game against a team that many predict to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more news, analysis, and discussion on Orlando, visit SB Nation's Magic blog, <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Orlando Pinstriped Post</b></a>. Visit SB Nation's Thunder blog, <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Welcome to Loud City</b></a>, for the opponent's perspective. For news and notes from around the league, be sure to follow <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub.</a></i></span></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2011/12/25/2661179/christmas-day-2011-magic-vs-thunder-score-update-halftimeBrendan Porath2011-12-25T20:44:31-05:002011-12-25T20:44:31-05:00Magic Vs. Thunder Score Update: Oklahoma City Leads By Five After First Quarter
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<p>After one quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a> lead the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> 27-22 in their Christmas night opener.</p>
<p><span>Dwight Howard</span> was impressive early on, finishing with seven points and five rebounds in the first quarter. He looked to get away with one on a block attempt against <span>Russell Westbrook</span> - a play that could have easily been whistled as his second foul of the quarter. Howard was just one of four from the free throw line, but looked dominant in the paint picking up where he left off last season.</p>
<p><span>Ryan Anderson</span> chipped in with seven points. Anderson had six of the Magic's first eight points. He scored the first bucket of the game on a feed from <span>Jameer Nelson</span> in which he was fouled on a roll to the basket. Anderson hit the free throw to convert the old fashioned three point play. Just two minutes later, he would drill a deep three for a quick early six points.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more news, analysis, and discussion on Orlando, visit SB Nation's Magic blog, <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" target="_blank"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Orlando Pinstriped Post</b></a>. Visit SB Nation's Thunder blog, <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" target="_blank"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Welcome to Loud City</b></a>, for the opponent's perspective. For news and notes from around the league, be sure to follow <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub.</a></i></span></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2011/12/25/2661136/christmas-day-2011-magic-vs-thunder-score-update-first-quarterBrendan Porath2011-12-25T18:28:34-05:002011-12-25T18:28:34-05:00Magic Vs. Thunder: Orlando Opens Season On Christmas Day In Oklahoma City
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<p>Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic tip off the 2011-12 season with a Christmas night match up against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> open the 2011-12 season on the road with a Christmas night matchup against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a>. While certainly not a consensus opinion, many experts and NBA pundits are <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011-nba-free-agency/2011/12/23/2657308/nba-picks-2011-2012-miami-heat-oklahoma-city-thunder-chris-paul-mvp">picking Oklahoma City to represent the Western Conference</a> in the NBA Finals this season. With only two games in a condensed preseason to prepare for the Christmas opener, it will be a tough road test for <span>Dwight Howard</span> and company.</p>
<p>Here is all you need to know for tonight's battle between the Magic and Thunder:</p>
<p><b>Game Date/Time:</b> Sunday, December 25, 8:00 p.m. ET</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> ESPN (National)</p>
<p><b>Probable Starters:</b></p>
<p>Orlando: PG <span>Jameer Nelson</span> - SG <span>Jason Richardson</span> - SF Hedo Turkoglu - PF <span>Ryan Anderson</span> - C Dwight Howard</p>
<p>Oklahoma City: PG <span>Russell Westbrook</span> - SG <span>Thabo Sefolosha</span> - SF - <span>Kevin Durant</span> - PF <span>Serge Ibaka</span> - C <span>Kendrick Perkins</span></p>
<p><b>Game Officials:</b></p>
<p>Bill Kennedy - Nick Buchert - Derrick Collins</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more news, analysis, and discussion on Orlando, visit SB Nation's Magic blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/"><b>Orlando Pinstriped Post</b></a>. Visit SB Nation's Thunder blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/"><b>Welcome to Loud City</b></a>, for the opponent's perspective. For news and notes from around the league, be sure to follow <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation's NBA hub.</a></i></span></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2011/12/25/2661029/christmas-day-2011-magic-vs-thunder-orlando-season-openerBrendan Porath