Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) hits a three point shot against the Orlando Magic at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Tue Jan 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (16-17) had to work extra hard to beat the Orlando Magic (19-14) Tuesday night at the Chase Center. The Magic, with the best record in the Southeast Division, 19-13, had rebuilt the team via the draft.

The Magic had four players over six feet ten inches tall. Last year’s Rookie of the Year, Paolo Banchero, is a force to be reckoned with. The Warriors assigned Klay Thompson to guard him Tuesday night. It wasn’t easy, but Thompson did the job even though Banchero scored 27 points.

The Warriors had to find a way to stop Moritz and Franz Wagner the young men from Berlin, Germany, were both six-feet ten. The center, Bitadze, measured six feet eleven inches. The Warriors’ tallest players were Kevon Looney and Trayce Jackson-Davis, who were six feet nine inches tall. 

The Warriors had lost three in a row and knew beating the young, tall, and talented Magic squad would be a struggle. The game was a nip-and-tuck affair until late in the fourth quarter. The Magic had an early nine-point lead in. the first quarter.

The Warriors got their game going to finish the first quarter with a two-point advantage, 30-28. The Warrior’s biggest lead in the second quarter was 47-42. The Magic kept coming back. They made a three at the end of the first half to tie the game, 55-55.

Orlando’s big men outrebounded the Warriors 33-25. The Magic had 13 offensive rebounds to help keep them in the game. The Warriors had a rough first half at the free-throw line. The Magic, not a good free-throwing team, made thirteen free throws. The Warriors made seven in 14 threes. 

Stephen Curry and Thompson propelled the Warriors to a six-point lead 87-81 in the third quarter. Curry started to connect from three-point land. Thompson started to make buckets. The one sad note was Gary Payton II appeared to suffer a leg injury. Payton went to the locker room and did not return.

The Magic erased the six-point lead to start the fourth quarter. Thompson, Curry, and Jonathan Kuminga paced the offense for Golden State. Moritz and Franz Wagner made shots to keep the Magic in the game. Curry made a deuce and a trey to give the Warriors the lead, 104-97. Thompson and two buckets by Kunimga had the Warriors leading, 110-101. The Warriors’ defense did the job, and the Warriors were able to win the game 121-115.

Game Notes: With the win, the Warriors snapped a three-game losing streak, and improved to 16-17 for the season. The Magic dropped to 19-14.

All five of the Warrior starters were in double figures. Curry led the team with 36 points and made four threes. Kuminga had 19 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Thompson had 15 points. Thompson made three threes. Chris Paul had 12 points, and he also made three threes. Jackson-Davis, Andrew Wiggins, and Brandin Podzienski each had ten. Wiggins was once again excellent on defense for the Warriors.

Banchero paced the Magic with 27 points, 12 boards, and six assists. Franz Wagner had 25. Bitadze had 13, Moritz Wagner had 12, and Jalen Suggs had ten.

The Warriors cut down on fouls in the second half. The Magic made just six free throws. Turnovers were not an issue for Golden State Tuesday night. The Warriors did a good job, as they committed just 12 turnovers.

The Warriors meet the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at the Chase Center. The Warriors will be looking to avenge the loss to the Nuggets on Christmas day in Denver. The game will start at 7 pm.