Desmond Bane’s Heroics Propel Magic Past Jazz
In a thrilling encounter on Saturday night, the Orlando Magic narrowly escaped a fourth-quarter collapse against the Utah Jazz, thanks to Desmond Bane’s last-second layup in overtime. With this dramatic victory, the Magic are now set to secure at least a split on their four-game pre-Christmas West Coast road trip as they prepare to face the Golden State Warriors.
Magic’s Injury Struggles Continue
As the Magic gear up for their matchup with the Warriors, they remain shorthanded. Point guard Jalen Suggs is listed as ‘doubtful’ for the game, despite traveling with the team. His absence has been felt, particularly in recent games. However, Jonathan Isaac made a return from a brief one-game absence and is no longer on the injury report. Meanwhile, Tristan da Silva’s status is uncertain as he is ‘questionable’ to return after missing several games.
Warriors Look to Bounce Back
On the other side, the Golden State Warriors snapped a three-game losing streak in a nail-biting 119-116 victory over the Phoenix Suns. This win came despite Draymond Green’s ejection, showcasing the team’s resilience under pressure. With a record of 3-5 in December and 1-2 at home this month, the Warriors are striving to find their rhythm as they prepare for a Christmas showdown against the Dallas Mavericks.
Stephen Curry’s inconsistent lineup presence has been a challenge for the Warriors. However, he seems to be regaining his form, stepping up when needed in crucial moments during games. The Warriors aim to capitalize on their home court advantage as they close out this three-game homestand.
Game Details and Broadcast Information
As the Magic prepare to face the Warriors, fans can tune in to the game on Monday, December 22, at 10:10 p.m. EST, live from the Chase Center in San Francisco. The game will be broadcasted on the FanDuel Sports Network in Florida and NBC Sports Bay Area for Warriors fans. Radio coverage will be available on FM 96.9 The Game/AM 740 WYGM for the Magic, while Warriors fans can listen on 95.7 The Game.
Magic Aim for Series Sweep
This matchup marks the conclusion of the season series between the Golden State Warriors (14-15) and the Orlando Magic (16-12). The Warriors are keen to even the score after falling to the Magic at Kia Center on November 18. Historically, Golden State has performed well against Orlando, boasting an 18-7 record over their last 25 meetings.
Despite their defensive struggles in recent weeks, particularly with Suggs sidelined, the Magic aim to maintain their momentum. In their previous encounter, Bane led the charge with 23 points and five steals, while Anthony Black contributed 21 points off the bench. The absence of Paolo Banchero was notable, but the Magic managed to secure a solid rebounding advantage, winning the battle on the boards 43-36 and forcing 18 turnovers.
Projected Starters and Injury Report
As both teams finalize their rosters for this crucial game, here are the projected starters:
Warriors
F Jimmy Butler
F Draymond Green
C Quentin Post
G Stephen Curry
G Moses Moody
Magic
G/F Desmond Bane
F Paolo Banchero
C Wendell Carter Jr.
G Tyus Jones
G Anthony Black
Injury Report
Warriors
Seth Curry: Out – Left Glute Injury Management
Al Horford: Out – Right Sciatic Nerve Irritation
Magic
Tristan da Silva: Questionable – Right Shoulder Contusion
Jalen Suggs: Doubtful – Left Hip Contusion
Franz Wagner: Out – Left High Ankle Sprain
Moritz Wagner: Out – Left Knee Injury Recovery
Colin Castleton: Out – G League (Two-way)
Warriors Reflect on Recent Success
Following their recent win against Phoenix, Warriors forward Jimmy Butler remarked, “I respect everybody wants to be great, but tonight we realized what it’s gonna take to win. We were all on the same page about how bad we wanted to win this one. We came to the conclusion that we all gotta be in this thing together.”
With both teams facing unique challenges, the upcoming clash promises to be an exciting and pivotal moment in their seasons.
