Orlando Magic vs Golden State Warriors Prediction

Orlando Magic vs Golden State Warriors Prediction

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors (16-13) look to earn three successive wins for the first time this season when travelling to an understaffed Orlando Magic (11-18) side overnight. 

Having blasted an out-of-sorts Cleveland Cavaliers team out of the water earlier this week with a 31-point margin, they did well to ultimately outlast the Miami Heat with a 120-112 overtime win last time out. 

Kent Bazemore led them in scoring for the first time this season with 26 points off the bench, but how will their latest Eastern Conference opposition fare this time out? Read my basketball preview for the best betting odds ahead of this compelling H2H matchup.

Orlando Magic vs Golden State Warriors Preview

Curry had 25 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and two steals, but the Warriors' leading scorer (30 PPG) didn't exactly enjoy the most efficient outing in 42 minutes.

He shot 8-of-25 from the field, with the bulk of those from deep (5-of-20), and refreshingly, others stepped up with more efficient shooting splits by contrast - including the aforementioned Bazemore. 

The veteran SF seized his opportunity with more shots and responsibility than usual, recording a season-high in points with four triples - one of four Warriors players to score at least four three-pointers. 

Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr (joint-game high three steals) had 23 points and eight rebounds, while second-year PF Eric Paschall provided dependable minutes from the bench. 

With big men James Wiseman (wrist), Kevon Looney (ankle), and Draymond Green (ankle, day-to-day) not available, they showed great resiliency to prevail after an eventful fourth quarter. 

The question is whether they can replicate that against Orlando - who boast an All-Star centre in Nikola Vucevic despite their own well-documented injury woes. He led the game in minutes (38), but veteran SG Evan Fournier took charge with an efficient 19-point outing, en route to a surprising 107-89 win over New York last time out. 

They collectively shot 47.1% from deep, though Vucevic was 0-of-7 from three-point range and will be hoping to clean up his long-distance shooting after recording a double-double (16 pts, 16 rebs) alongside five assists. 

Orlando Magic vs Golden State Warriors Betting Tips

ESPN's BPI is unsurprisingly backing Golden State to improve their 5-7 away record here with a 68.3 win probability, as you can't expect another impressive Magic display from three-point range - they trail the Warriors in FG%, assists, blocks and steals per game while also averaging ten fewer points so far this regular season. 

There should only be one winner here, presumably powered forward by Curry and divisive SF Wiggins, who is quietly having a career-year from three (37.3%) and overall FG% (46.8).