The Golden State Warriors are hoping to end what was considered the easiest part of their schedule with a winning record when they face the Orlando Magic on Monday night.
At 20-20, the Warriors were aiming to move up in the tight Western Conference standings when they started a nine-game stretch on January 18, where they wouldn’t leave California. Eight of those nine games were at home.
So far, they’ve managed wins against the Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, and Oklahoma City Thunder, but have lost to the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns.
With 12 of their next 14 games on the road after the Magic game, the Warriors are still at a .500 record and are now closer to the bottom of the West than the top.
As the trade deadline approaches, some are wondering if a loss to the Magic could lead to the Warriors becoming sellers.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr made it clear even before Friday’s 130-105 loss to the Suns that changes are needed. “We’re not in a position where we can just say: ‘We’re good. Let’s stand pat.’ That’s the reality of where we are,” Kerr said. “If there’s something that makes sense, (general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.) is going to do it.”
In their first meeting of the season with the Magic, the Warriors will face a team that’s somewhat similar. Orlando’s record is 24-26, slightly worse than Golden State’s, but they’re in a better position in the standings with the East having fewer winning teams.
Unlike the Warriors, the Magic are in the middle of their toughest stretch of the season. This game will be their fourth stop on a six-game road trip, but they’ll soon play 10 of their next 11 games at home.
After losing to Miami, Portland, and Utah in the past week, the Magic have been encouraged by the return to health of star Paolo Banchero, who missed 34 games with a torn right oblique.
Banchero has played in 11 straight games, including a 44-minute effort in Monday’s loss to Miami. He’s now been playing alongside Franz Wagner, who missed 20 games due to his own oblique injury.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley knows the remaining three games of their road trip are important for gaining momentum ahead of their home-heavy schedule.
“We always talked about: Are you playing your best basketball in March and April? That’s what we’re working toward,” Mosley said. “But understanding you are not going to be there right away. It’s going to take some time. But are you progressing there? That’s most important.”
The teams will meet again in Orlando later this month. In the last two seasons, the team that won the first game went on to complete the sweep.
