Kyle O'Quinn capped off a strong individual performance in the Orlando Magic's 115-111 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday by making a potentially game-saving block against Brooklyn swingman Joe Johnson, a seven-time All-Star.
Trailing by three points and with 13.6 seconds to play, Brooklyn inbounds the ball just in front of Orlando's bench, trying to find the hot-handed Johnson, who had scored with ease its last six points. O'Quinn switches onto Johnson as he isolates on the left wing. After taking a few dribbles to size up the second-year big man, Johnson elevates for the potential game-tying trey, but O'Quinn cleanly rejects it. Arron Afflalo recovers the rebound and the Nets have no choice but to foul.
"Coach told me to stay down and I did so," said O'Quinn after the game. "Just sticking to what he said. It worked out for us." He joked that not fouling Johnson on the play was difficult for him because "I'm the best at fouling," and he may have had a point: O'Quinn leads all Magic players in personals per 36 minutes, averaging 5.1.
The Norfolk State product finished the night with 13 points, eight boards, a key assist to Maurice Harkless, a steal, and two blocked shots.