Pregame Report from AdventHealth Coaching Heart
ORLANDO – Over the past decade, no workforce within the league has gained extra video games than the Golden State Warriors.
Over that timeframe, they’ve not solely racked up six Western Convention titles, but in addition an astounding 4 NBA championships.
So, for a younger and upcoming workforce that at the moment lacks postseason expertise, there’s arguably no higher take a look at to arrange for the postseason than getting the prospect to go head-to-head with the battle-tested Warriors.
Orlando (42-29) will get that chance on Wednesday when it faces off with Golden State (37-34) at Kia Heart at 7 p.m. ET.
“They’ve been champs,” mentioned Magic heart Wendell Carter Jr. “They know what it takes to get there. They know what it takes to win a championship. They know what kind of recreation they should have (in opposition to us on Wednesday).”
The Magic might be going up in opposition to a Warriors squad that’s hungry for victories. Golden State at the moment sits on the 10th spot within the West and will definitely be seeking to climb up the postseason ladder.
“They’re tremendous harmful,” mentioned Magic guard Markelle Fultz. “Any time you’ve gotten Klay Thompson, Steph (Curry), Draymond (Inexperienced) and people guys on the workforce, they’re all the time going to be a menace. (We have now to) go in there locked into the sport plan and do what we have to do. So long as we try this, I believe now we have an awesome likelihood … to get a win.”
Orlando, in the meantime, might be seeking to bounce again from a tricky defeat in opposition to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. The Magic had a lot of probabilities down the stretch, however on account of premature fouls and some missed probabilities across the rim, they got here up simply brief.
Orlando has used its three days in between video games to get well, reset, and assessment its errors, because it makes an attempt to return out and ship its finest effort in opposition to Golden State.
“We’ve been actually locked in on this subsequent recreation in opposition to Golden State (and) our recreation plan going into that,” mentioned Fultz. “We’ve been mentally getting ready ourselves, in addition to bodily.”
The Magic are on the level within the season the place each recreation issues, particularly within the postseason standings. Orlando at the moment holds the fifth seed within the East, is simply one-and-a-half video games out of the third spot and simply two video games forward of sixth.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Our space of focus (in shootaround) was recreation planning. Understanding Steph and Klay and what they’re able to doing at any given time all through the sport. Figuring out you’re not going to cease guys like that, however you simply should make their jobs tough. It’s a workforce effort. You’re not going to have one man guarding them. And in addition, (being prepared) for the opposite play making that these different guys make all through the sport. They’ve three or 4 guys enjoying actually good basketball proper now.”
IN AND OUT: Caleb Houstan (left ankle; sprain) is questionable, whereas Gary Harris (proper plantar fascia; pressure), Kevon Harris (G League – Two-Manner), Jett Howard (G League – On Project), and Trevelin Queen (G League – Two-Manner) are out for Orlando.
Golden State’s harm report is just not but submitted.
KEY STATS: Since Jan. 28, the Magic are a powerful 19-7 (.731). That’s the third-best successful share within the NBA over that span, trailing solely the Boston Celtics (22-4) and Denver Nuggets (19-6).