Injury puts Curry on bench
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Orlando Magic caught a break against the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Monday night.
The Warriors took the floor without their superstar point guard, Stephen
Curry, who missed the game due to a right thigh contusion.
“If it were a playoff game he’d play, but it’s pretty sore,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said shortly before tipoff. “We’ve got two days before our next game, so this gives us a chance to really get it healthy and right. It was pretty sore. He didn’t do anything yesterday or today. He’s just been getting treatment. It’s a no-brainer to rest him.”
Shaun Livingston
started at point guard in Curry’s place.
Livingston was surrounded in the Warriors’ lineup by perennial All-Stars such as Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
Magic coach Frank Vogel acknowledged before tipoff that Curry’s absence would change his team’s gameplan “a little bit.”
“But,” Vogel added, “we know who they still have. We’ll just concentrate on the guys they have in uniform.”
The Magic have had some good fortune with opponents’ injuries this season. The Magic beat the San Antonio Spurs when the Spurs were without Kawhi Leonard, defeated the Memphis Grizzlies without Mike
Conley and handled the New York Knicks without Kristaps Porzingis.
Isaac hurting
Jonathan Isaac’s right ankle swelled after he sprained it on Saturday night during a loss to the Denver Nuggets.
The 20-year-old rookie forward wore a walking boot on Monday to protect his ankle.
Home cooking
Power forward Aaron
Gordon spent part of the Magic’s off day Sunday at his family’s home in San Jose, Calif.
His mom cooked an early Thanksgiving meal — a meal that included his favorite dish, stuffing.
“I always love it when she makes stuffing,” Gordon said. “Celery, onions, sausage. We’ve got some bread and mushrooms.”
Bracing for runs
Magic players entered Monday knowing they would have to play a complete game to beat the defending NBA champions.
Fueled by ball movement, 3-point shooting and defense, the Warriors have a knack for going on decisive runs, especially when they play on their home court.
“You can't let it get you down,” Magic point guard
Elfrid Payton said. “Obviously, it's probably going to happen. You've got to be able to fight back from it and don't let it continue to happen."
The Magic had lost eight consecutive games to the Warriors entering Monday and hadn’t won at Oracle Arena since Dec. 3, 2012.
“The environment is definitely something we’ll talk about pregame,” Vogel said. “They’re going to hit some crazy shots and they’re going to go on some crazy runs at some point throughout the game, and the building’s going to be jumping. We’ve just got to maintain our focus on what we have to do to execute on the floor.”
Oracle Arena is one of Magic players’ favorite venues.
“It’s super exciting to play in a place like that,” Payton said. “You can feel the energy in there. But it’s going to be a mentally tough game. You’re going to get punched. You’re going to get smacked. You’ve got to be able to come back and throw some punches of your own. I think we’ve got the team to do it.”
Layups
■ Payton said his tender left hamstring is getting better, saying it’s “definitely closer” to being fully healed. That said, Payton declined to answer whether he’s still a bit hesitant to push off his leg. Indeed, there was a play during Friday night’s win in Phoenix in which Payton declined to elevate for a jump ball against Devin
Booker. Payton didn’t want to risk aggravating his injury.
■ The Magic’s eight-game losing streak to the Warriors entering Monday night was tied for the Magic’s longest active losing streak. The Magic also have lost eight straight games to the Charlotte Hornets. Earlier this season, the Magic snapped a 17-game losing streak to the Cleveland Cavaliers.