Orlando fans got a wonderful surprise Thursday night as the Magic topped the defending champs in a close, high-scoring battle. Despite a frustrating start with Orlando often coming on the losing end of close games, they were able to earn their second win of the season, this time over the reigning NBA Champs.
Orlando’s Offense had the Best Game of the Season
Orlando got to the line 46 times in the win, converting 33 of the free throws. This is no surprise since the Magic are second, only behind the Pistons, in free throws attempted this season. It has been a huge key to their success in keeping games against contending teams close, much like this one.
Orlando also out-rebounded and shot better than the Warriors. The Magic snagged 46 rebounds compared to the 35 Golden State had and shot an efficient 53% from the field compared to the Warriors’ percentage which was at 51%.
Orlando also found themselves down 65-53 at halftime. Normally a lead like that would not be overcome against the defending champions, but Orlando put together a 43 point third quarter to come all the way back to be down two at the end of the third. The Warriors also led by as much as sixteen.
Jalen Suggs, who has not been as efficient as one would like to be, had a career night with 26 points and 9 assists. He had four steals too, two of which came in the final few minutes to help send him to the line to seal the win. He also had a clutch three pointer with 37 seconds left to help push Orlando to victory.
Suggs on the win: “I think making the right and aggressive play and continue to play within our game plan and take what’s open and take what the defense was giving us.”
First-overall pick Paolo Banchero also played well with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Other Orlando players had high scoring games like Chuma Okeke and R.J. Hampton who both had 16 and 15 points respectively. Both players were the spark for Orlando from three-point land as they shot 3-5 (60%) from behind the arc. Okeke also had 9 rebounds in the game, a career night off the glass for him.
Wendell Carter Jr. had a productive night with 14 points and 9 rebounds. He also was a threat from three cashing in two from downtown. Franz Wagner put together another impressive night as he is starting to get to form with 19 points.
Kevon Harris was a surprise off the bench for the Magic as he had 12 points on an efficient 4-7 (57%) shooting and grabbed five rebounds for the team.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson Shine, but where’s the Rest?
Curry and Thompson combined for 66 points as they had 39 and 27 points respectively. That is over half of the team’s points from last night. However, Golden State had few other players score in bunches to help push them over the edge.
Draymond Green fouled out late in the game with a measly 8 points, although he finished with a productive 8 assists. Jordan Poole had a quiet night with 11 points and turned the ball over four times. Andrew Wiggins shot well at 50% but had only 15 points while in the starting rotation. James Wiseman, who Golden State looks for to get points off the bench, had only two all game.
The Warriors also had only 15 free throws compared to the 46 Orlando had. Head coach of Golden State, Steve Kerr, highlighted this margin.
“Every time they [Orlando Magic] are shooting a free throw we are taking the ball out of the net and having to execute our half-court offense and the game is not flowing.”
The lack of flow was huge, and although the Warriors made it close, the Magic came up victorious following Thompson’s off-balance mid-range jumper going off the front of the rim.
Up Next
For not having a lot of momentum to start the year, this was a huge win for Orlando. They now sit 2-7 on the season and have won the past two games against Kerr and his Warriors team. The Magic’s next game is at home again Saturday afternoon against the Sacramento Kings in the Amway Center. Tip-off is at 5:00 p.m. E.T.