ORLANDO – For a team looking to make the most of their current seven-game homestand, the Orlando Magic provided quite the opening act.
Orlando defeated the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Thursday night in a thrilling back-and-forth battle that came down to the final possession.
Now, the Magic (2-7) will look to continue to build on that momentum and ride the wave of their home crowd against the Sacramento Kings (2-5) on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.
“It was electric and exciting,” said Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley of the atmosphere during Orlando’s victory over Golden State.
The Magic made strides in a number of areas on Thursday night that they’ll certainly hope to carry into Saturday. Their bench unit outshined the Warriors' reserves, 45-23, getting valuable contributions from Chuma Okeke, R.J. Hampton, and Kevon Harris. Orlando was also extremely aggressive on the offensive end, attacking the rack, which led to 46 free throw attempts, their most since March 20, 2017. And most importantly, they remained composed down the stretch after blowing double-digit leads in five of their first eight outings this season.
“Whether we were up or whether we were down, we stayed the course,” said Magic guard Jalen Suggs, who fired off 15 of his career-high 26 points in the fourth quarter. “It was a great team win. Everybody contributed. Everybody played great minutes. You can’t ask anything more of (anyone) on the roster.”
While Sacramento doesn’t provide quite the same offensive threat as Golden State, it’s still a dangerous squad, especially in transition.
The Kings are sixth in the NBA in fast break points per game (16.9) and also hold the same ranking in limiting the opposition’s points in transition.
Leading the charge in that regard is Sacramento point guard De’Aaron Fox, who’s always a threat once he gets downhill. The Kings’ floor general is scoring a whopping 13.7 of his team-high 24.5 points per game in the paint, which is the fourth most for any guard in the entire league.
Offseason acquisition Kevin Huerter has also provided a big boost for Sacramento, but from outside the paint. The 6-foot-7 sharpshooter has knocked down a red-hot 51.8 percent of his 3-point attempts and is averaging 18.9 points per game, second most on the team.
KEY STATS: Paolo Banchero is currently leading all rookies in points (21.8), rebounds (7.7), and assists (3.6) per game. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft certainly looks more than worthy of his draft slot and is without a doubt the early frontrunner for the league’s Rookie of the Year award.
However, one of his biggest threats to taking home that trophy resides in Sacramento. Keegan Murray, the fourth overall selection, has also put up impressive numbers tallying 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
While we’ve already seen the two go head-to-head in Summer League action – which ended with Orlando emerging victorious in double-overtime – watching two of the league’s most promising young players go against one another will certainly be something to keep an eye on this Saturday night.
IN AND OUT: Terrence Ross (left knee contusion) is questionable, while Cole Anthony (right internal oblique tear), Markelle Fultz (fractured big left toe), Gary Harris (left knee injury recovery), Jonathan Isaac (left knee injury recovery), and Moe Wagner (sprained right midfoot) are out for the Magic.
For Sacramento, Fox (right knee; bone bruise) is questionable, while Keon Ellis (G League – Two-Way), Chima Moneke (G League – On Assignment), and Neemias Queta (G League – Two-Way) are out.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “One-hundred percent agree with him being the number one pick. A Seattle kid – those guys breathe basketball. Paolo is a special guy. He hit some tough shots (on Thursday). That’s why he was the number one pick. He’s going to make some tough ones and you have to live with those. I really love his demeanor. That team hasn’t won many games. I think that was their second win of the season, but they are competing. And if you’re watching these games, they’re not getting blown out anymore. They’re right there and they’re learning how to win. If I’m being honest, I think his demeanor and who he is, has a lot to do with that. (It) has a lot to do with the mindset change. Obviously, you have to give a lot of credit to Jamahl Mosley, who’s leading the charge over there from the head coaching position. But Paolo and his demeanor and his love for the game, you can see it through other guys. And, by the way, we’ve struggled in (Amway Center) as you know. That was the most confident that I’ve seen an Orlando Magic team, at least that I can remember, for the last six or seven years. It’s due in large part to Paolo’s demeanor.” – Four-time NBA champion and four-time All-Star Draymond Green on Banchero and the Magic
HOW TO WATCH: Watch the game on Bally Sports Florida or tune in on radio via FM 96.9 The Game.