Warriors Look to Bounce Back Against Magic
The Golden State Warriors will conclude their four-game homestand by hosting the Orlando Magic at Chase Center on Monday night. The Warriors, 24-24, are coming off a 130-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns, where star guard Stephen Curry struggled, hitting only five of his 14 field goal attempts. Despite the setback, Golden State remains in the hunt for a playoff spot, currently sitting 11th in the Western Conference standings. Before the loss against Phoenix, the Warriors secured back-to-back victories over the Utah Jazz and the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. Andrew Wiggins and Moses Moody each contributed 17 points in the defeat to the Suns, highlighting the team's depth. Head coach Steve Kerr will be looking for a strong response from his squad as they face an Orlando team that has struggled on the road.
The Orlando Magic, 24-26, has faced challenges recently, losing six consecutive road games, including a 113-99 defeat to the Utah Jazz. Forwards Franz Wagner and Cole Anthony combined for 60 points in that game but received little support from the rest of the roster. The Magic have lost eight of their last nine games, with their sole victory in that span coming against the Detroit Pistons. In terms of injuries, the Warriors continue to be without forward Jonathan Kuminga due to an ankle injury sustained in early January, and veteran Draymond Green remains sidelined with a calf issue. The Magic are missing Moritz Wagner, who underwent surgery for a torn ACL and is out for the remainder of the season. As both teams look to improve their standings, the Warriors will aim to capitalize on their home-court advantage and the Magic's recent struggles to secure a much-needed win.
The Warriors' offense has been inconsistent, with Curry averaging 17.3 points on 35.3% shooting over the last four games, below his season average of 22.1 points per game. Andrew Wiggins has also faced shooting woes, hitting only 30% from the field in two of his last three games. Despite these challenges, Golden State's defense has remained solid, ranking 10th in the league in opponents' points per game. The Magic's offensive struggles are evident, as they rank last in the NBA in scoring, averaging 103.8 points per game. Injuries have played a significant role, with key players like Jalen Suggs and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sidelined. Franz Wagner has been a bright spot, averaging 30.5 points over the last four games, but the team has struggled to find consistent scoring options beyond him.
Historically, the Warriors have had the upper hand in this matchup, winning both meetings last season. With the Magic's current road woes and injury concerns, Golden State is favored to secure a victory and improve their position in the Western Conference standings. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PST at Chase Center. The game will be available to watch via NBA League Pass.
