Struggling Orlando Magic, Golden State Warriors try to build on recent victories
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Golden State Warriors' Jimmy Butler scoring with a dunk as Oso Ighodaro of the Phoenix Suns looks on helplessly during the third quarter of their 119-114 NBA home win at Chase Center on Dec 20.
PHOTO: IMAGN IMAGES
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SAN FRANCISCO – Having stalled recent slumps with nail-biting victories in their respective National Basketball Association (NBA) games on Dec 20, both the Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors seek a winning streak at the other’s expense when they meet in San Francisco on Dec 22 (Dec 23, Singapore time).
Even with Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner and Moe Wagner out of action, the Magic showed off their depth in a 128-127 overtime win at the Utah Jazz on Dec 20. Desmond Bane led six Orlando players in double figures with 32 points.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the Warriors leant heavily on Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler as they pulled off a 119-114 home win over the Phoenix Suns, with Curry going for 28 points and Butler getting 25 points.
Bane believes that the Magic have enough quantity in their roster to overcome even key absences.
“It doesn’t matter who is playing, who is in the rotation. We have a clear identity and a clear recipe for what it takes to win games,” he said.
“We have to put it out there on the floor regardless of who is playing.”
The narrow triumph over the Jazz was just Orlando’s third in their last seven games.
The Magic, who are still fifth in the Eastern Conference, have not had a winning streak since a three-game stretch from Nov 25 to Dec 1.
The Warriors can relate, as their win over the Suns snapped a three-game skid.
Golden State have won consecutive games – a modest two-game run – just once since reeling off three straight victories in the middle of November.
The most pleasing aspect of their latest win was that it ended not only a losing streak but also a string of close setbacks.
They were beaten by a total of 13 points in the three defeats, and entered the Phoenix game with a 5-10 record in “clutch” games – which are defined as contests with no more than a five-point difference in the score at some point during the final five minutes.
Butler believes that the Warriors, who have lost nine of their last 14 games, are not far from turning things around as they hope to move up from eighth in the Western Conference.
“Continue to play basketball the right way, I’m a firm believer in that,” said Butler after beating the Suns.
“We play hard, we play for one another, and we’re gonna be just fine. It’s not as bad as it looks... but that’s just the game. That’s been our season thus far.”
Meanwhile in NBA action on Dec 21, Jalen Brunson scored a season-high 47 points as the New York Knicks toppled the Miami Heat 132-125.
Star point guard Brunson also managed eight assists and three rebounds in his highest-scoring home game for the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Elsewhere, De’Aaron Fox racked up 27 points and Luke Kornet scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to help the visiting San Antonio Spurs outlast the Washington Wizards 124-113.
Anthony Edwards scored 24 points and Donte DiVincenzo added 18 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to a 103-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in Minneapolis. REUTERS
