SAN FRANCISCO – Paolo Banchero scored 25 points, Franz Wagner added 24 points and the Orlando Magic defeated the Golden State Warriors 115-101 on Saturday night as the defending NBA champion lost for the first straight home games this season.
The Magic won on the Warriors’ home floor for the first time in more than 10 years.
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Anthony Lamb scored a career-high 26 points off the bench for Golen State, 14 of them in the opening quarter with four 3s. Donte DiVincenzo added 15 points and eight rebounds, and the Warriors lost a second consecutive run after going on a five-game best win streak and six-game unbeaten run at the Chase Center. It ended on Wednesday night with a 3-pointer from Saddiq Bey for Detroit in a 122-119 win.
The Warriors welcomed reinforcements at the back with All-Star Andrew Wiggins and veteran Andre Iguodala making his long-awaited season debut, but Klay Thompson suffered a late-onset scrape with pain in his surgically repaired left knee. He warmed up and was announced with the starters during the pre-game introductions.
Wiggins scored 12 goals in 19 minutes as he came back after 15 games with a muscle strain in his right thigh and a non-COVID illness that delayed his expected return – including missing his bobblehead night on Wednesday.
Stephen Curry missed his 11th straight game with a partially dislocated left shoulder but could return in the coming week – the hope is Friday in San Antonio to start a five-game road trip.
Iguodala was yet to play as the Warriors took a conservative approach as the 38-year-old veteran suffered a left hip injury. He received a hearty ovation when he first checked in at 7:28 of the first moment and the other, finishing after 12 minutes.
Cole Anthony added 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds for Orlando.
Magic center Moritz Wagner returned after a three-game absence, one of which he was ill, then a two-game suspension for his role in a December 28 altercation with the Pistons in Detroit.
KERR’S HELPER
A 12-year-old boy from North Carolina named Braxton Barefoot fulfilled a dream of becoming an NBA coach and helping Steve Kerr through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Barefoot wore the same outfit as the Golden State coaching staff and attended media sessions. The Warriors and Magic are his favorite teams.
Barefoot, who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy, has a close friend, Eli Shwaikeh, who “wants to be an NBA player and my goal is to coach him to the end.”
TIP INS
Magic: Orlando hadn’t won in the Bay Area since beating the Warriors 102-94 on December 3, 2012 and stumbling in nine games. …The Magic were outrebounded 49-44.
Warriors: Iguodala was limited to 31 regular-season games last season, so Golden State staff want to make sure he’s still fresh for another playoff run this spring. … The Warriors have lost their last three in the series and are down 8-3 at home against the Eastern Conference.
NEXT
Magic: Continues a five-game road trip on the West Coast Monday night in Sacramento.
Warriors: Host the Suns Tuesday night after losing the last three to Phoenix.
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