ORLANDO, FL – The Orlando Magic defeated the Golden State Warriors 130-129 for their second win of the 2022-23 season.
Second year point guard Jalen Suggs came through in the final seconds of the fourth quarter with a clutch three point shot over Klay Thompson as well as a key steal to prevent the Warriors from a chance to win the game.
Suggs, who had just returned to the Magic lineup after nursing a sprained ankle, has seen a resurgence in his second year. On Thursday, Suggs scored 26 poi switch 9 assists and 4 steals, none more clutch than in the final seconds of the game.
Orlando, with a 2 and 7 record so far this season, has struggled in the fourth quarter of most of its games. They often managed to match the play and consistency of it’s opponents, only to fall apart late in the game and not not be able to win in the end.
This game was different.
“It’s just about us being ourselves and playing within our gameplan,” Suggs said after Thursday’s win. “Coaches have trust in all of us to make the right plays and to make good plays. We all have trust to make those good plays. My teammates have my back right or wrong. They are behind me. The shots went in and we got stops. All of us contributed all night long. I ended up getting the ones at the end. The ones that happened before that are at the same level. If they don’t do those things and us as a team didn’t play like that, I don’t get those opportunities.”
Suggs scored 15 of Orlando 34 points in the fourth quarter.
Down by one with 1:48 to play, Suggs went into a pick-and-roll and came around on the other end with no one guarding him. That is the shot the Warriors probably wanted Suggs to take. Suggs recognized the miscommunication on the switch and buried the open three.
Strong Orlando defense locked down the final minutes and the steal by Suggs closed it out.
Rookie Palo Banchero scored 22 points with 8 rebounds and was a strong presence in the Orlando offense. The Magic had 7 players in double figures, even with adding Terrance Ross to the legion of injuries that has plagues them.
Orlando was able to overcome a high number of turnovers on Thursday, giving up 19 turnover for 27 Golden State points.
The Warriors have been struggling. Stephen Curry came through with 39 points with 9 assists added with 27 points from Klay Thompson, were the majority of the Warrior offense.
With 14 turnovers of their own, giving Orlando 23 points, the Warriors continue to struggle. They had a 15 point lead in the game, which was erased to eventually let the magic back in the game, and eventually lose it.
It is another notch in the story for this young Magic team as the grind through another tough NBA season.
