Kevin Durant has won in every building in the NBA in his career except one: the Amway Center.
Durant and the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder (28-7) put their six-game winning streak on the line as they visit Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic (23-13) in Thursday’s best game, airing on TNT.
The Thunder last won in Orlando in March 2004, when they were still wearing the Seattle Supersonics uniforms and Durant was 16 years old.
Although you’d never guess after watching him put on a clinic at the All-Star Game, Durant has historically struggled in Orlando, averaging a measly 15.3 points in four games. It his worst road mark against any team.
While rumors continue to swirl around Howard and the Magic, the team has continued to perform, winning seven of their last nine games and sharing third place in the Eastern Conference with the Indiana Pacers. The key to their success has been the defense, which allows 90.9 points per game, fourth in the league.
No team has scored 100 points against the Magic in the past 10 games and they are 20-11 when holding opponents to less than 100 points.
The Magic will have to use that defensive mindset to contain the scoring combination of Durant and Russell Westbrook – two of the top five scorers in the league – who average a combined 51.2 points.
Westbrook leads all point guards in scoring with 23.5 points and is second in rebounding with 5.1 per game, just behind Kyle Lowry.
Howard leads the Magic in just about every major statistical figure with 19.9 points, 55.2% shooting, 15.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.3 blocks. The Magic are doing everything in their power to persuade their franchise center to stay, but it remains to be seen if his averages lead a different team come the trade deadline.