ORLANDO, Fla. _ Over their previous nine games entering Wednesday night, the Orlando Magic had no response when opponents went on runs.
The result: nine consecutive losses.
On Wednesday _ against a team with three perennial All-Stars _ the Magic finally showed some backbone.
When the Oklahoma City Thunder gathered a series of offensive rebounds midway through the third quarter that could have swung the momentum in the Thunder's favor, the Magic finally went on a decisive run.
The Magic scored 13 consecutive points, took an 87-77 lead and beat the Thunder, 121-108, at Amway Center.
The victory snapped the Magic's nine-game losing streak.
Aaron Gordon scored a game-high 40 points, collected a game-high 15 rebounds and even dished out four assists. And he also ignited the decisive third-quarter run by sinking a 3-pointer that tied the score at 77.
Magic coach Frank Vogel played Gordon the entire second half.
The Magic took a 105-83 lead _ their largest lead of the game _ on a 3-pointer by D.J. Augustin with 7:04 remaining in the final period.
To be sure, the Thunder have struggled lately. Still attempting to integrate newcomers Carmelo Anthony and Paul George alongside reigning league MVP Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City has lost five of its last six games.
Westbrook tallied 37 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
Point guard Elfrid Payton provided the first indication that Wednesday might be different for the Magic. Early in the first quarter, he feinted right and crossed over to his left, and the move sent Westbrook sprawling to Amway Center's parquet court. Payton then sank a jumper from 16 feet.
Midway through the quarter, Westbrook drove to the hoop and elevated but had his shot attempt blocked by Evan Fournier. It was only Fournier's sixth block of the season, but more importantly, it signaled that the Magic had brought more determination than they had shown during their nine consecutive losses.
Vogel brought swingman Terrence Ross off the bench for the second consecutive game, and Ross performed well during his 14 minutes of playing time.
But Ross injured his right knee with 4:38 to go in the second quarter when he challenged a drive to the hoop by Westbrook. When Ross jumped to disrupt Westbrook's shot attempt, Ross' right knee appeared to hyperextend when Ross landed. He walked gingerly to the Magic locker room and did not return to the game. Team officials said he will be evaluated further, which likely means he'll receive an MRI.
The Magic (9-13) largely outplayed the Thunder (8-12) and limited the Thunder to 40 percent shooting.
Orlando took a 26-15 lead with 3:39 to go in the first quarter but only held a narrow lead at halftime, 59-57.
The Magic's poor defensive rebounding hurt them throughout the middle of the third quarter.
With the Thunder leading 73-72, George missed a 3-pointer. But the Thunder collected three successive offensive rebounds near the hoop, and Steven Adams was credited with a tip-in.
But the Magic recovered with their 13-0 run, which gave them an 87-77 lead. Gordon and Nikola Vucevic scored five points apiece during the stretch while the Thunder missed all 10 of their shot attempts.
The Magic never trailed again.
With 2:30 remaining in the game, with the Magic leading 114-103, Bismack Biyombo hurled a pass to Fournier, who drained a 3-pointer.
Thunder coach Billy Donovan called a timeout.
As the Magic walked back to their bench, Gordon shook Payton's hand and Jonathon Simmons' hand.
They had done their job and done it well.
Their losing streak was about to end.
And it ended because they showed more backbone.
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