The Golden State Warriors are riding high after a much-needed 119-116 win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night, snapping a three-game skid and injecting some life back into a team that’s been searching for consistency. The victory wasn’t just about the final score-it was a collective effort that saw contributions up and down the roster, a sign that Golden State may be finding its rhythm again.
Now, with just a day of rest, they’re back at it tonight, hosting the Orlando Magic at Chase Center. A win would bring the Warriors back to .500-an important psychological checkpoint for a team that’s been hovering around the break-even mark for much of the season.
Injury Report: Stability for the Warriors, Uncertainty for the Magic
Golden State enters this matchup with a mostly clean bill of health, which is a welcome change for a team that’s dealt with its fair share of absences this season. The only two players officially ruled out are Al Horford and Seth Curry.
Curry, who recently joined the team and saw action in his first two games, has been sidelined with a left glute injury. Even when healthy, his path to consistent minutes is a tough one, given the Warriors’ already guard-heavy rotation. With players like Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Brandin Podziemski soaking up backcourt minutes, Seth’s role was always going to be situational at best.
The bigger long-term concern is Al Horford. The veteran big man has been inching closer to a return after being sidelined with a sciatic nerve issue.
He’s been back on the practice court and reportedly fully healed, but the coaching staff is understandably easing him back. Conditioning is key, especially for a player in his late 30s who will be leaned on to provide stability in the frontcourt rotation.
Tonight marks Horford’s seventh straight missed game and his 11th in the last 12, but with Quinten Post stepping up admirably, the Warriors can afford to be patient.
Orlando’s Injury Woes Continue
On the other side, the Magic are still navigating a tough stretch of injuries that’s been a theme all season. The last time these two teams met, Paolo Banchero was out. This time, he’s available-but his co-star Franz Wagner won’t be joining him.
Wagner is set to miss his fifth straight game after spraining his left ankle two weeks ago against the Knicks. While the initial scare looked worse than it turned out to be, the Magic are taking a cautious approach with one of their cornerstone players. He’s expected to be out at least another week or two as he continues to recover.
The Magic are 2-2 in the four games Wagner has missed, and they also dropped the game against the Knicks where he was injured early in the first quarter. That’s not a terrible stretch, but it underscores how much they miss Wagner’s two-way presence on the wing.
Adding to the injury list, Jalen Suggs is doubtful with a left hip contusion, while rookie Tristan da Silva is questionable due to illness and a right shoulder contusion. If neither suits up, it would be their third straight game on the sidelines.
That leaves Orlando potentially without three key rotation players, which will put even more pressure on Banchero to carry the load. Expect Tyus Jones and Anthony Black to continue starting in the backcourt, with Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. filling out the lineup alongside Banchero.
What to Watch Tonight
Despite Orlando’s injury issues, this won’t be a walk in the park for Golden State. The Magic have shown resilience all season, and Banchero is more than capable of putting together a big night. But with the Warriors healthier and coming off a confidence-boosting win, this is a golden opportunity to build momentum heading into the holidays.
Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PST at Chase Center.