The Golden State Warriors (25-24) fended off a furious fourth-quarter rally from the Orlando Magic (24-27) and pulled off a 104-98 victory on February 4.
Golden State Warriors Top Performers:
Stephen Curry 24 PTS | 2-12 3PT | 5 AST | 33.9 FPS
Curry has been in a slump since facing the Celtics, scoring under 21 points in six straight games. But his 8-for-8 free-throw performance helped him break the trend. Still, his shooting has been a problem, hitting under 40% in five games with his three-point shot extremely hit-or-miss. His assists are also on the decline, making this stretch all the more concerning.
Kevon Looney 2 PTS | 15 REB | 6 AST | 31.2 FPS
Looney has been an impactful contributor for his position in his last three games where he logged at least 20 minutes. With Post and TJD struggling to make an impact, he’s likely to maintain his current role moving forward.
Andrew Wiggins 25 PTS | 10-15 FT | 2 REB | 29.4 FPS
Wiggins has been a well-rounded player in recent weeks. He’s also been a dependable scorer, putting up 17 or more points in seven straight games since scoring 4 against the Celtics. However, he hasn’t managed back-to-back 20-point performances, and his shooting percentages have been inconsistent while his free-throw accuracy has become a growing concern.
Brandin Podziemski 8 PTS | 5 REB | 2 STL | 21.0 FPS
Podz’s scoring has taken a dip, but his rebounding, assists, and steals are keeping him a decent contributor.
Moses Moody 17 PTS | 6-9 FG | 3-5 3PT | 18.2 FPS
Moody’s been lighting it up from the field and from three in his last two games. He’s been a good scorer, reaching double digits in nine of his last ten games, but his free throws have become a weakness while his overall contributions have slipped a bit in recent games.
Orlando Magic Top Performers:
Franz Wagner 21 PTS | 5 AST | 2 STL | 36.1 FPS
Wagner has struggled from three since his return, but solid field goal and free-throw percentages have helped him average 27.2 points over his last six games. His all-around production is already encouraging, but he hasn’t quite hit his stride yet.
Paolo Banchero 18 PTS | 0-6 3PT | 6 REB | 30.7 FPS
Banchero showed promise in his first four games back from an oblique injury, but his performance has been up-and-down since. His shooting percentages are now a concern, sitting at 38.8% from the field and 61.3% from the line. His three-point shooting has been particularly rough, missing all 16 attempts over the last three games. With a tough schedule ahead, things could get more challenging.
Cole Anthony 26 PTS | 5 AST | 2 STL | 43.5 FPS
Anthony has been on fire lately, averaging 21.7 points while delivering a complete stat line in each of his last three games. With Black struggling and Suggs’ status uncertain, he’s in a strong position to keep his hot streak going.
Wendell Carter Jr. 6 PTS | 9 REB | 7 AST | 28.3 FPS
Carter’s role, along with his contributions, has declined as the team gets healthier. He’s put up just 6 points in both of his last two games after recording double-digit points seven times in his previous eight, though he’s maintained steady rebounding numbers.
Goga Bitadze 6 PTS | 14 REB | 1 BLK | 26.3 FPS
Bitadze’s return from concussion has been slow, but he’s been a steady contributor in the rebounding and defensive categories even with a minutes restriction.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Buddy Hield 4 PTS | 0-2 3PT | 1 TO
Hield’s offensive game has been rough lately, but a favorable schedule ahead could provide the opportunity for a much-needed bounce back.
