The Orlando Magic start a seven-game homestand with a matchup with the defending champion Golden State Warriors as they look to extend their surprising home winning streak in the matchup.
Orlando Magic (1-7) vs. Golden State Warriors (3-5)
Time/TV: 7 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
WATCH MAGIC-WARRIORS ON FUBO TV
FOLLOW LIVE @OMAGICDAILY
Line: Warriors by 9
Tickets: $86-$7,599 on StubHub
Season Series: Tonight in Orlando; Jan. 7 in San Francisco
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden State | 103.8 | 111.5 | 115.6 | 54.4 | 28.2 | 15.7 | 24.0 |
| Orlando | 99.6 | 106.3 | 111.6 | 51.1 | 27.1 | 15.7 | 28.3 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic own one of the oddest streaks in the league. They have won four straight over the Golden State Warriors at Amway Center. There are plenty of blowouts in San Francisco and Oakland — and a few frustratingly close games — but for whatever reason the Magic match up well enough with the Warriors. At least when the Magic are able to play well enough.
That will be the question. The Magic have had lots of good moments that they have struggled to pull together. It would be asking a lot for them to finally pull those pieces together against a good team like the Warriors, even if the Warriors are not exactly juggernauts yet.
Orlando has to play well to win this game. The Magic have to limit their turnovers or things will get very ugly in this one. That is the first place to start. The Warriors are playing right now in a way that will let the Magic hang around if the Magic do their work.
3 Keys To Watch
Home cooking?
The Orlando Magic always knew the start of their schedule would be extremely difficult. Six of the first eight on the road was always a big ask, especially for a young team. Orlando was always going to struggle out of the gate — although they certainly should be better than their 1-7 start.
The fact is the Magic have only two home games under their belt. But those two home games — a six-point loss to the Boston Celtics and a 20-point win over the Charlotte Hornets — were probably the team’s two best games this season. They had two of their three best offensive ratings in those two games. They had their two best effective field goal percentages in those games too.
The Magic have looked very much like a young team — just look at all the turnovers and poor execution late in games. But another characteristic of young teams is how much better they play at home. Orlando has not been in the Amway Center enough to draw any conclusions. But it should be fair to expect the team to right some things in the next two weeks.
The turnover problem
Still, the Orlando Magic are a young team prone to young team mistakes. And that remains the biggest thing facing the team. They have to get out of their own way and prevent their own mistakes to have a chance to win these games. That goes double against a team like the Golden State Warriors, who punish opponents for every little error they make.
As things stand now, the Magic are 25th in the league in turnover rate at 15.7 percent. Of note too, those two home games — against the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets — were the team’s two best games with turnovers. The Magic are giving up 19.4 points off turnovers per game, 21st in the league. That might be some solace.
Still, this is going up against the Warriors. And the Warriors are a team that punishes mistakes. Golden State is sixth in the league with 19.9 points off turnovers per game. This is going to be the biggest determinant in the game. Can Orlando protect the ball and possessions? If they can, they have a shot. If they cannot, they will be in big trouble.
Battle of the Benches
The Orlando Magic’s starting quartet of Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter and Bol Bol have an overall net rating of +27.9 points per 100 possessions. The team has had some killer first quarters — or at least enough to be 15th in every category. Orlando’s starters this year have an overall net rating of -1.3 points per 100 possessions this year.
The problem has been the bench. Orlando’s bench is 27th in the league at -5.9 points per 100 possessions. It is not good. And Magic fans can absolutely point to the bench lineups — especially lineups without Wagner, Banchero or Carter in them — as zero lineups that just do not do well.
The Golden State Warriors obviously have a great starting lineup. But their young bench is struggling too. The Warriors have the second-worst bench in the league at -9.6 points per 100 possessions. Their bench units have given away a lot of good that the Warriors’ starters can do.
It will be an interesting battle when the starters go out. Someone is going to have to step up and deliver for the win.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.