NBA Preview from The Sports Network
Monday, December 3rd
(All times eastern)
Orlando Magic (6-10) at Golden State Warriors (10-6), 10:30 p.m.
(Sports Network) - The Orlando Magic will try to use Sunday's emotional
victory over their former star Dwight Howard and his Los Angles Lakers when
they visit the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.
The Magic used a 40-point fourth quarter on Sunday in L.A. to overcome the
Lakers and win, 113-103.
Orlando moved Howard in the offseason amid years of speculation about whether
or not Howard would sign long-term. The Magic traded him in a summer
blockbuster, but the biggest chip they received in terms of players was Arron
Afflalo.
The Magic, who got their five-game road trip off to a great start with the win
over the Lakers, received draft picks, but it didn't seem like a huge haul for
the game's best center. Afflalo certainly paid off on Sunday night with 30
points, five rebounds and five assists.
Glen Davis added 23 and Jameer Nelson, who missed the last Magic game, chipped
in 19 points. Nikola Vucevic, Howard's replacement at center, contributed a
double-double with 17 points and 12 boards.
And Howard even helped his old team out on Sunday. Yes, he had 21 points and
15 rebounds, but he missed seven free-throws in the fourth quarter and went 9-
for-21 from the foul line on the night.
"It wasn't emotional," Howard said after the game. "It bothered us that we
didn't play the way we needed to play."
The Warriors have won three straight, all at home, as Monday's game is the
last at Oracle Arena for a while. Golden State heads east for a seven-game
sojourn that won't see the Warriors back at home until Dec. 18.
The Warriors, who have won five in a row at home, bested the Indiana Pacers
103-92 on Saturday night. Klay Thompson had 22 points and seven rebounds,
while his backcourt mate, Stephen Curry, posted 20 points and 11 assists.
You might be hard-pressed to find two better bench contributors this season
than the Warriors' Carl Landry and Jarrett Jack. On Saturday against the
Pacers, Landry netted 18 points to go along with five rebounds and five
assists, while Jack had 16 points and four assists. Jack threw in a half-court
shot to end the third quarter and give the Warriors a 10-point lead.
Those sorts of shots are great, but forward David Lee highlighted another end-
of-quarter play as a key ingredient to the success that has taken the Warriors
into a share of the lead in the Pacific Division.
"At the end of the second quarter they were on a fast break that could have
cut it to three but we intercepted the pass and get a layup to make it seven
at half," said Lee. "I feel like those are little plays that would have won a
game last year."
The Magic have won eight of the last 10 against the Warriors and are 5-1 in
their last six in Golden State.
12/03 10:41:43 ET

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