Magic improvements to test luck and up and down kings

The Orlando Magic have just beaten the defending champion Golden State Warriors for two straight seasons and are looking to keep the momentum going when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.

After losing nine straight road games against the Warriors, the Magic won an impressive 115-101 on Saturday in the opener of a five-game trip.

After a dreadful 5-20 start, Orlando has won 10 of its last 15 games, including two against last season’s other NBA Finals participants, the Boston Celtics. .

“I believe every day that if we follow the game plan and believe in ourselves, we can give ourselves a chance to win,” said Magic guard Markelle Fultz. It helps us build.”

Rookie Paolo Banchero scored 25 points, his third straight eighth overall appearance of 25 or more points. Franz Wagner added his 24 points. Fultz had a solid all-around performance with 16 points, seven assists and six steals.

Most impressive to coach Jamal Mosley, his team limited Golden State to 37.5% shooting from the field.

Sure, the Warriors didn’t have the Splash Brothers duo of Stephen Curry (elbow) and Klay Thompson (knee), but Mosley has seen the energy expand while producing stellar results.

“I like the way it affects shots,” Mosley said. “We protected each other and communicated. I thought that was part of growing up.

The Magic are looking for a season split with the Kings after a dramatic 126-123 overtime decision in Orlando on November 5.

Sacramento star Dearon Fox was the hero when time expired and he scored the winning three-point shot from over 30 feet.

Fox scored a season-high 37 points in that game. Banchero also achieved a season-high 33 points and his 16 rebounds, while Wagner scored his 31 points.

Fox nearly hit another long-game winner Saturday night, but his heave from just inside the midcourt line came as time expired as the Kings lost 136-134 to the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. bounced behind the rim.

Fox had 34 points and 9 assists, while Domantas Sabonis had 25 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists.

“He’s ready,” Sabonis said of Fox. “He knows we need him in times of crisis and he can hit whatever shot he wants. He’s been great again.”

For Sabonis, it was 16 consecutive double-doubles to break the franchise mark set by DeMarcus Cousins ​​during the 2013-14 season.

Kings coach Mike Brown was happy with his club’s offensive showing against the Lakers, but he was plagued with defensive problems throughout the game.

“Somehow, somehow, we have to find a way to stop people,” Brown said. “I’m not good at defense at all….I can score, but my defense is terrible.”

Sacramento is near the bottom of the NBA, allowing 117.3 points per game, but things have gotten worse lately. The Kings have given up at least 120 points in nine of their last 13 contests.

Sacramento is 0-2 in a five-game homestand that started Wednesday with a 120-117 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

The Kings have won the Magic three times in a row, 9 of their last 12 wins.

–Field level media