Tonight in the Amway Center Orlando face Golden State to close the home stand. The Warriors were expected to be challenging for the title, but then Steph Curry went down. Will the Warriors’ NBA title chances dive because of it? Tonight we get to watch them play in his absence.
The tip time off time from the 407 is shown on the Orlando Magic website as being 11pm here in the U.K. (7pm Eastern for our friends in Orlando). To watch the game live or on demand you will need an active NBA League Pass subscription.
Time to take a look at the matchup between these two teams.
Season Record And Last Time Out
The Orlando Magic
Thanks to a career high from Wendell Carter Jr the Magic took a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder by 85-90 in the Amway Center. In what was a dull game few of the Magic squad got it going. Wendell Carter Jr had a career-high 30 points, in a double-double with 16 rebounds. The only other Magic players with double-digit scoring were the “Berlin Ballers” as Franz Wagner scored 11 points and brother Moritz tallied 10 points.
Orlando now have a record for the season of 19 wins and 53 losses, with 10 games remaining. The Magic are last in the Eastern Conference. Over the last 10 games played the Magic have won 4. The home record stands at 9 wins of 35 games played. On the road the record is 10 wins in 37 games played. Points per game sees the Magic scoring 104.3, whilst conceding 112.1.
The Golden State Warriors
Golden State are 3rd in the Western Conference, having dropped from leading it when we played in December. They possess a record of 47 wins and 24 losses. The Warriors have won 18 of 33 games played on the road. They have won 4 of the last 10 games played, also losing the last 2. They score an average 111.2 points per game, whilst conceding just 105.2 (the league’s 5th best record for points conceded per game). Golden State are ranked first in defence but surprisingly only 13th on offence.
Their last game was a 110-108 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Jordan Poole led the team with 28 points, whilst Klay Thompson hit 24 and Andrew Wiggins 16 points. Former Magic player Otto Porter Jr recorded a 16 point 16 rebound double-double from the bench.
Head-To-Head – The Golden State Warriors
Golden State have not lost to the Magic on their home court since December 3rd 2012! That’s 9 straight losses. Thankfully the Magic’s record is a little better in the Amway Center.
This is the second and final meeting of the season. The first on December 6th saw the Warriors take the game 96-126. On the night Stephen Curry (31 points) and Andrew Wiggins (28 points) did a lot of the scoring damage.
The all time head-to-head record in the 65 regular season games played sees the Magic ahead by 33-32.
Last season the series was split 1-1, as has happened for the past three seasons. On Game Day 26 (11th February) Orlando could not handle a red hot Curry and lost 105-11 in San Francisco. However on Game Day 30 (20th February) the Magic won 120-124 in the Amway Center.
The teams have never met in the playoffs.
Our Opponents – The Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are back to being a force and they hope to have a particular player come back by the time the playoffs begin.
Stephen Curry had been a candidate for another MVP title until he was injured by Boston’s Marcus Smart. Golden State will be without Curry, Andre Iguodala and James Wiseman. Andrew Wiggins and Moses Moody are both questionable for the game.
Last Starting Lineup – Jordan Poole (PG), Klay Thompson (SG), Andrew Wiggins (SF), Draymond Green (PF), Kevon Looney (C)
Bench Unit – Otto Porter Jr, Nemenja Bjelica, Jonathan Kuminga, Chris Chiozza, Juan Toscano-Anderson (DNP), Damion Lee (DNP)
The Orlando Magic Lineup And Injury Report
Coach Jamahl Mosely will have an additional player after the Magic signed guard Jeff Dowtin to a 10 day contract. Dowtin has played in the NBA this season for both the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks. He also appeared in three preseason games with the Magic and has been a member of the Lakeland Magic.
Last Starting Lineup – Cole Anthony (PG), RJ Hampton (SG), Franz Wagner (SF),Wendell Carter Jr (PF), Mo Bamba (C)
Magic Bench Unit – Markelle Fultz, Chuma Okeke, Gary Harris, Moe Wagner, Ignas Brazdeikis, Terrence Ross (DNP), Admiral Schofield (DNP), Robin Lopez, (DNP),
Injury Report – Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac and Bol Bol are all out for Orlando.
Final Thoughts As Orlando Face Golden State
The Warriors may be going through a wobble but are still a top team. They will be a tough ask to get a win against for Orlando, even with their injuries to important players.
Third in attempts with the three-point shot, the NBA’s leading two-point field goal percentage tells you that this team can score. Whilst multiple players can create their own shot the Warriors also move the ball, seeing them 5th in assists. The Warriors will rely on Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole heavily for scoring.
It is on defence the Warriors build from. They defend the paint and the three point line with efficiency, giving little for free. They block shots at a rate of 4 per game, 5th best in the league. Rebounding is a huge strength as well.
The Magic have won three straight at home over the Warriors. To be in with a chance tonight Orlando will need to reduce the turnovers suffered against OKC. They will also need more energy.
What is certain Wendell Carter Jr will relish this opportunity. His last game saw Wendell join elite company after his 30 points and 16 rebounds on 12-for-15 shooting. Orlando legends Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard are the only players in franchise history to tally at least 30 points and 15 rebounds while shooting better than 80% in a contest.
Let’s Go Magic!
