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Highest-scoring first half of the season powers Warriors to win over Magic

By

Kerry Crowley

/

After an overtime victory on Wednesday night at Staples Center, the Warriors flew across the country and listed half of their regular rotation players as “questionable” for Friday evening’s contest in Orlando.

Though four of the five players head coach Steve Kerr listed on his injury report wound up suiting up, there was a “question” of whether Golden State was ready to put forth maximum effort in a relatively meaningless December matchup with a slumping Magic squad.

The answer? An emphatic yes. Thanks to their highest-scoring first half of the season, the Warriors raced away from the Magic in a 133-112 win, buoyed by strong efforts from two banged up stars who persevered to help Golden State to a 2-0 start on its six-game road trip.

After a 41-point first quarter, Golden State put up 37 in the second for a 78-point first half as the Warriors shot 68 percent from the field, made 9-of-14 attempts from beyond the arc and had eight players including all five starters rack up at least six points. In the second half, the Warriors challenged their franchise assist record, as the team finished with 46 assists on the night, one shy of the all-time mark.

Kevin Durant, who’s been sidelined frequently over the last two weeks due to a sprained ankle, brought plenty of bounce to the floor on Friday night, setting the tone by cutting through the lane for a transition dunk off an assist from Steph Curry.

While Durant has clearly improved since injuring his ankle two weeks ago in Philadelphia, Curry still wore protective padding on an injured ring finger that severely altered his shooting prowess on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

After tossing up three airballs against the Lakers, Curry scored 17 first-half points to lead all scorers on Friday and found his stroke from beyond the arc quickly.

Against a Magic team that’s one of the most improved offensive groups in the NBA, a sometimes-lackadaisical Warriors’ defense was active in the paint. Durant managed three early blocks, while rookie Jordan Bell emerged off the bench to collect a pair of first half swats as well. Bell subbed in midway through the first quarter, in the minutes usually reserved for JaVale McGee, which suggests that the Oregon product who was drafted 38th overall this summer could be climbing the Golden State rotation earlier than his head coach anticipated.

McGee was a notable “DNP” against Orlando, and reserve guard Nick Young nearly was as well. Young, who didn’t play until the final two minutes, watched as second-year guard Patrick McCaw received extended run on a night where neither Andre Iguodala (rest) and Young saw the floor. McCaw started in place of an injured Curry on Monday night against the Kings and paced the Warriors’ offense, and on Friday, his court vision was once again an asset as he helped Draymond Green convert the team’s final bucket before the half.

Though Orlando outscored Golden State 28-24 in the third quarter, the Warriors went on a 10-0 run early in the fourth to recapture control of the game and keep the Magic out of striking distance. Reserve center David West turned in some quality minutes off the bench, dishing out four assists and leading a fastbreak that ended with a give-and-go West bucket.

While the second half didn’t feature nearly as much scoring as the first for Golden State, Orlando never offered up a serious threat to the Warriors lead, which might have allowed Kerr an opportunity to rest his starters. However, Durant helped Kerr’s cause, earning a one-technical ejection after arguing a non-call on a mid fourth quarter shot attempt.

The ejection was Durant’s second of the season, following one he earned in Memphis earlier this year after Curry tossed his mouthguard following a no-call.

 

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