The Golden State Warriors defeated the Orlando Magic 121-115 on Tuesday night behind Stephen Curry’s 36 points. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the defending champion Warriors.
Curry Takes Over in Fourth Quarter
After the game was tied at 95 heading into the fourth quarter, Curry took over by scoring 14 points in the final frame to seal the victory. He finished with 36 points on 13-22 shooting along with 9 assists.
Curry got plenty of help from young forward Jonathan Kuminga, who had a career-high 24 points. Klay Thompson added 21 points as the Warriors’ core stars propelled them past an inferior Magic squad.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|-|-|-|-|
| Stephen Curry| 36 | 3 | 9 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | 24 | 5 | 2 |
| Klay Thompson | 21 | 5 | 3 |
Orlando was led by Paolo Banchero’s 25 points and Franz Wagner’s 24, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Curry and the Warriors. Golden State also held Magic point guard Markelle Fultz to just 7 points on 3-11 shooting.
Snaps Three-Game Losing Skid
Entering Tuesday’s contest, the defending champion Warriors found themselves on an unexpected three-game losing streak. Concerns were beginning to emerge over the team’s mediocre 21-18 start.
But Curry and the Warriors showed their championship mettle by gutting out a win despite missing key contributors like Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins. The victory moved their record back over .500 at 22-18.
While far from their dominant championship form, Steve Kerr’s squad appears to have righted the ship with this comeback win. Starters Kuminga and Thompson had their best games in weeks while Curry showed why he remains one of the game’s elite closers.
If Thompson can sustain his performance and Kuminga continues his development, Golden State should quickly move up the Western Conference standings.
What’s Next
The Warriors now hit the road for a Thursday night matchup against the 24-13 Memphis Grizzlies. Golden State lost their first meeting with Memphis 116-108 back in October.
With Ja Morant leading the way, the Grizzlies currently sit third in a tightly contested Western Conference. But after snapping their losing skid against Orlando, Golden State looks rejuvenated heading into this playoff rematch.
Beyond Thursday’s marquee matchup, Golden State continues a challenging stretch over the next two weeks. Upcoming games include Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets, Luka Doncic’s Mavericks, and league-leading Celtics led by Jayson Tatum.
If Curry and the Warriors can go .500 or better over this difficult slate, it should springboard them back into the upper tier of championship contenders. But another losing streak could put their season and title hopes in real jeopardy.
After stopping the bleeding against Orlando, the Warriors must keep momentum going with statement wins over Western Conference rivals. How Golden State navigates this treacherous upcoming schedule will go a long way in determining if they can seriously challenge for another championship.
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