The Oklahoma City Thunder were stunned at the end of regulation on Friday night as the Orlando Magic's Tobias Harris slammed home a dunk to steal a win at home, 103-102. Let's take a look at the final play of the game as we break down how Orlando beat one of the best teams in the NBA.
How the Magic beat the Thunder on Tobias Harris’ buzzer-beating dunk
Lazy defending in transition allowed the Magic to grab a win at home from one of the best teams in the West.
The rebound
The play starts with Kevin Durant shooting a pull up jumper off a pick and roll play. He misses off the iron, and the rebound bounces long to the opposite elbow. Initially, the Thunder don't look to be in too bad of shape, with two players above the break and ready to square the floor to defend against a fastbreak.
As Durant's shot goes up, Reggie Jackson rushes to rebound on the left side of the floor. When the ball comes off the rim, he and Thabo Sefolosha see the ball go long and run to scoop up the rebound.
As the scrum for the rebound ensues, Mo Harkless starts to streak down the court in anticipation of a fastbreak. Jeremy Lamb runs to follow him, but Kevin Durant stands relaxed at the top of the arc. With Sefolosha vacating the last line of defense to battle for the ball, Durant should have rotated back to the center of the floor.
The fastbreak
Victor Oladipo wins the ball away from Sefolosha and Jackson, and starts the fastbreak. Tobias Harris (arrow) gives chase to the play as does every Thunder player in the frame save for Kevin Durant, who is standing and watching the clock.
This leaves a two-on-one opportunity against poor Jeremy Lamb, who fills his lane properly and does all he can against two opponents.
Lamb makes the necessary move to stop Oladipo at the free throw line. The Magic rookie responds with a neat bounce pass to Harkless, who is standing directly below the basket. Harris is still trailing the play hard, but his defender, Reggie Jackson, starts to slow his gait after seeing the open passing lane to Harkless. It’s another critical mistake on defense by the Thunder.
Jackson has all but given up on the play, likely assuming that Harkless is preparing for an easy layup. With Harris still charging the rim, Harkless feels the excellent recovery by Lamb and instead dishes to the big man for an open shot at the basket. Jackson still manages to contest the shot, but is out of position compared to where he would be if he had kept running at a full sprint.
The dunk
