The Orlando Magic really could’ve used Jalen Suggs for this one. With Suggs and Paolo Banchero still out, things aren’t looking great ahead of their visit to the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center on Saturday, November 7, at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The Warriors are 6-3, seventh in the West with a 4-1 home record, after beating the Miami Heat 120-100. Stephen Curry leads them with 29.9 points per game, while Yaxel Lendeborg adds 21.0 points and 7.1 rebounds.
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Orlando is 2-6, 12th in the East with a 2-2 road record, following a 117-104 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Franz Wagner has 19.6 points and 8.5 assists per game, with Desmond Bane adding 17.5 points. The teams split last season’s series 1-1.
Injury Report
Warriors
Draymond Green: Questionable (right elbow inflammation/soreness)
Gary Payton II: Questionable (right calf tightness/soreness)
Gui Santos: Questionable (left knee tendinitis)
Jimmy Butler III: Out (right ACL repair/surgery)
Moses Moody: Out (left patellar tendon repair/surgery)
Kristaps Porzingis: Out (not with team)
Magic
Paolo Banchero: Out (right high ankle sprain)
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Jalen Suggs: Out (right knee contusion/bone bruise)
Jonathan Isaac: Out (left knee injury management)
Noah Penda: Out (partially torn right hamstring)
Izaiyah Nelson: Out (left ankle injury recovery)
Why The Warriors Have The Advantage
Golden State has a pretty simple advantage here: the Warriors can shoot, and Orlando has been struggling to score. Curry and company are making 16.1 threes per game on 38.9% shooting, while the Magic are hitting just 34.3% from outside. That’s a significant difference, especially when Orlando is missing two important starters.
The Warriors also have much more offensive help than they did early in the season. Against the Heat on Thursday, Curry scored 29 points, Lendeborg added 17, and the bench finished with 53 points. Golden State outscored Miami 38-23 in the third quarter and turned a close game into a comfortable win. The ball movement has been excellent, and opponents can’t simply focus on Curry anymore.
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Orlando’s turnover problem could make things even worse. The Magic are giving the ball away 17.8 times per game, and they committed 25 turnovers against the Suns on Thursday. Golden State has been forcing 17.6 turnovers per contest, so there should be plenty of chances to score in transition. If Orlando keeps losing possessions like that, it’ll be difficult to stay close for four quarters.
Why The Magic Have The Advantage
Orlando hasn’t been playing well, but Golden State isn’t exactly impossible to score against. The Warriors are allowing 113.0 points per game, with opponents shooting 47.5% from the field. That’s something Wagner and Bane should be looking to attack, especially when Curry is defending on the perimeter.
Wagner has been doing almost everything for the Magic lately. He finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and 15 assists against Phoenix, showing how much the offense depends on his passing. He’s also grabbing 6.4 rebounds per game, although his 19.4% shooting from three hasn’t helped. If Orlando wants to compete tonight, Wagner needs to be aggressive going to the basket instead of settling for outside shots.
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The Magic could also find some success inside with Wendell Carter Jr. Golden State has been playing without Porzingis and Butler, and Green’s questionable status could leave the frontcourt even thinner. Carter is coming off a 27-point, 13-rebound game against Phoenix, and Orlando should try to get him involved early. The Magic can’t expect to win a three-point contest against Curry, so attacking the paint makes much more sense.
X-Factors
Brandin Podziemski has quietly become one of Golden State’s most important players. He’s putting up 15.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while shooting 45.5% from the field. His outside shot hasn’t been particularly consistent at 34.8%, but he’s helping Curry with the playmaking and getting rebounds from the guard position. Against a Magic team that keeps turning the ball over, Podziemski should have opportunities to attack in transition.
De’Anthony Melton could also have a nice game. He’s contributing 10.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, along with 1.7 steals per contest. His 42.2% shooting from three has been excellent, and Golden State needs that spacing when Curry gets double-teamed. Melton should also get chances to pressure Orlando’s guards, especially with Suggs unavailable and Anthony Black handling more of the offense.
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For Orlando, Tristan da Silva has been one of the few reliable shooters on the roster. He’s scoring 14.6 points per game, grabbing 3.3 rebounds, and making 42.2% of his threes. Da Silva finished with 18 points against Phoenix, and the Magic desperately need that kind of production again. With Banchero out, he should have plenty of opportunities to take open shots, particularly when Wagner gets into the paint.
Anthony Black is another player worth watching. He’s played five games so far, putting up 15.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists while shooting 50.0% from the field. The problem is taking care of the ball, as he committed five turnovers against the Suns. Golden State has been pretty aggressive defensively, so Black needs to make better decisions and help Wagner create offense without giving away too many possessions.
Prediction
I think Golden State takes this one without too much trouble. Orlando has some interesting players, and Carter could have a strong game inside, but the Magic are scoring only 105.5 points per game while committing nearly 18 turnovers. That’s a pretty difficult combination against a Warriors team shooting 38.9% from three and getting plenty of scoring from its bench. Curry should have another good night, and I expect Lendeborg and Podziemski to help Golden State pull away in the second half. Seven straight wins for the Warriors sounds about right.
Prediction: Warriors vs. Magic 121-107
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
