THE GOLDEN State Warriors halted its losing skid in the 2023-24 NBA Season with a 121-115 victory over Orlando Magic on Tuesday night (Wednesday in the Philippines) at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
Stephen Curry top-scored with 36 points, including four three-point conversions, to go with six assists, four steals, and two rebounds, while Jonathan Kuminga chipped in 19 points as the Warriors snapped its three-game slide for a 16-17 slate.
Klay Thompson contributed 15 markers, with three outside hits, Chris Paul ended with 12 markers, while Trayce Jackson-Davis, Andrew Wiggins, and Brandin Podziemski finished with 10 each for the Warriors.
From a 69-all score midway in the third quarter, the Warriors went on a run behind Thompson, Wiggins, and Podziemski as they established an 87-79 advantage.
The Magic rallied back to take a 93-92 lead but the Warriors answered with outside shots from Thompson and Curry to reclaim a double-digit lead with under a minute left in the game.
Paolo Banchero had a double-double of 27 points and 12 rebounds, Franz Wagner added 25 markers, while Goga Bitadze, Moritz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs ended with 13, 12, and 10 as the Magic dropped to 19-14.
Meanwhile, Charlotte Hornets (8-24) leaned on a huge fourth quarter run to pull off a stunning 111-104 victory over Sacramento Kings (19-13) at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
Down 75-78 to start the final quarter, the Hornets banked on conversions by Terry Rozier and a triple from PJ Washington Jr. for an 81-all score before the Kings created separation anew at 94-88.
Sacramento were still ahead at 100-94 before Rozier scored nine straight points to cut the deficit to 103-104 before completing Charlotte’s run with baskets from Washington and Miles Bridges.
Rozier top-scored for the Hornets with 34 points, Bridges added 27 markers, while Washington and Cody Martin ended with 17 and 10 markers, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
GOLDEN STATE 121 — Curry 36, Kuminga 19, Thompson 15, Paul 12, Wiggins 10, Podziemski 10, Jackson-Davis 10, Looney 5, Saric 2, Payton 2.
ORLANDO 115 — Banchero 27, F. Wagner 25, Bitadze 13, M. Wagner 12, Suggs 10, Harris 8, Anthony 8, Carter 6, Houstan 6, Black 0.
Quarterscores: 30-28, 55-55, 87-81, 121-115.
