The Warriors didn’t get off to a great start Monday night in Orlando. Right from the jump, Stephen Curry looked uncomfortable on that sore left ankle he’s been dealing with lately, and you could see it affecting his game. He missed his first six shots from deep and just couldn’t find a rhythm, going 3-for-13 from the field as the first half dragged on. Not exactly what they were hoping for.

Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors Signed 3-Point Record Shot 16x20 Photo JSA 
Curry started slow, but the Warriors hung in there through the first half. Orlando kept the lead for most of it, sure, but Golden State never let things get out of hand. Heading into the last minutes of the third quarter, the Magic were up 71-69, and you could feel the tension building. It looked like the visitors might steal the momentum as the game hit crunch time.

Early on, Curry just couldn’t get his shot to fall. On top of that, he didn’t look quite right physically—maybe it was the ankle, maybe something else. Either way, his usual three-point magic was missing. That’s a big problem for a team that relies so much on shooting from deep. With their main guy off, the rest of the squad had to pick up the slack to keep things close.

But the Warriors didn’t flinch. Even with the rough start, they stuck to their plan, stayed aggressive on defense, and waited for their chance. That mental toughness kept them alive until Curry woke up.

And then, with 8:20 left in the third, everything flipped. Curry finally nailed a three after missing his first six tries. That one shot felt huge—not just for the scoreboard, but for the energy in the building. It kicked off a 14-4 Warriors run that pretty much settled things right there. Sometimes, all it takes is one shot to change the whole story.
Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors Unsigned 3-Point Shot  
The Catalyst Shot

That one three-pointer changed everything. Curry had missed six straight from deep, and people started asking if his ankle injury was messing with his shot. Then he drained it — no hesitation. Suddenly, you just knew the two-time MVP was ready to take over.

The shot cut Orlando’s lead to 71-69, but honestly, it meant way more than that. It jolted the whole team. From that point on, the Warriors put on a show and used that energy to pull ahead.

The 14-4 Run: Taking Control

The Warriors followed up with a 14-4 run, which is just classic Warriors basketball. The offense started to flow, defense tightened up, and the whole squad looked locked in. Curry’s spark caught on, and Orlando couldn’t keep up with the pace or the precision.

Owning the Third Quarter

Golden State outscored Orlando 31-26 in the third, and you could feel the shift. Once they took the lead, they never looked back. That third quarter really set the stage — by the time the fourth rolled around, the game felt just about over.

Curry’s Second Half Explosion: 18 of 26 Total Points

Curry completely turned things around after halftime. He only had 8 points on 3-for-13 shooting in the first half, but he caught fire in the final 24 minutes, pouring in 18 points with way better efficiency. That second half proved exactly why the team trusts him, even when things look rough early on.
Stephen Curry propels Warriors to top of NBA with win over  

Curry wrapped up the night with 26 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals. He shot 10-for-23 overall and hit 4 of his 13 threes. Sure, his shooting numbers weren’t off the charts, but the shots he did make? They mattered. Every time the team needed a spark, Curry found a way to deliver, even after a slow start. That’s what sets apart championship players—showing up when it counts.

And then there’s the ankle. Curry played through some obvious pain, but he didn’t back down. He kept attacking, stayed aggressive, and got hot right when the game was on the line. That’s grit, plain and simple.

He did more than score, too. Those 6 assists? He kept finding open teammates and making plays, all while still looking for his own shot. On defense, he grabbed 2 steals, staying active and making an impact wherever he could.

On the other side, Jimmy Butler did his thing, too. He quietly put up 21 points on a super-efficient 7-for-9 shooting, and he even knocked down his only three-pointer. While Curry’s late-game fireworks stole the show, Butler’s steady play kept his team in it all night.
Jimmy Butler's Game 7 miss crashes Heat storybook run he was  
Efficiency and Reliability  
Butler shot the lights out. Hitting 7 of 9 from the field—that’s 78%—he kept things simple, made the right reads, and didn’t force anything. The best part? He didn’t need a ton of shots to make a big impact. With Curry struggling early, Butler’s steady scoring was exactly what the Warriors needed.

Leadership Through Consistency  
Butler just joined the Warriors this season, but he’s already proving you can count on him. He dropped 21 points with crazy efficiency, showing the team he’s someone they can trust, no matter who else is hot or cold that night.

Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski: Strong Bench Production  
The Warriors’ bench stepped up, and that made all the difference. Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski both gave the team a real boost.

Moses Moody’s Scoring  
Moody poured in 20 points, giving the Warriors another reliable scoring option. Add that to Curry’s 26 and Butler’s 21, and those three alone scored 67 of the team’s 120 points—more than half the offense.

Brandin Podziemski’s All-Around Game  
Podziemski came off the bench and did a little of everything: 16 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds. That’s the kind of depth you need if you want to compete for a title, especially when your stars aren’t firing on all cylinders. His passing really stood out, too—he helped take some of the pressure off Curry to create.
Warriors mark 4th NBA title in 8 years with San Francisco  
Orlando’s Fight: Paolo Banchero’s Double-Double Effort

The Warriors took control in the second half, but the Magic didn’t just roll over. Orlando kept things interesting, and a couple of guys really stood out—especially Paolo Banchero.

Banchero’s All-Around Game

Banchero led the way for Orlando with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. He just keeps showing why people can’t stop talking about him—he does a bit of everything, and he makes it look easy. His double-double gave the Magic a real boost, but let’s face it, the Warriors just had too much momentum after halftime.

Desmond Bane’s Scoring

Desmond Bane chipped in 20 points, giving the Magic another steady scoring option. With Banchero and Bane combining for 41, Orlando’s offense looked fine most of the night. The problem? They couldn’t get stops when it mattered.

Orlando’s Defensive Breakdown

Defense turned out to be Orlando’s undoing, especially in the third quarter. That’s when the Warriors really caught fire. Curry found his groove, Golden State moved the ball with confidence, and the Magic just couldn’t slow them down. No matter what they tried, the stops didn’t come.

Draymond Green’s Return: Impact and Limitations

Draymond Green came back after his early ejection against Phoenix and played 18 minutes. He gave the Warriors 9 points, 7 rebounds, and plenty of leadership on the floor. It wasn’t a huge stat line, but you could feel his presence.
Paolo Banchero Orlando Magic Autographed 16" x 20" Dunk  
Limited Playing Time
Draymond Green only logged 18 minutes, and honestly, that says a lot about where things stand right now. The Warriors have been winning games without him, especially after his recent discipline issues. They played an impressive second half while Green was mostly on the bench, which shows just how deep this team is. Golden State can lean on other guys and still get the job done.

Defensive Presence
Still, even in limited minutes, Green made an impact on defense. He’s always talking, always directing traffic, and you can feel his presence out there. The Warriors turned up their defense in the second half, and Green’s energy helped set that tone—even if he wasn’t out there for long stretches.

Injury Updates and Roster Availability
This game also gave us some updates on who’s available and who’s still out:

Buddy Hield's Streak
Buddy Hield finally missed a game—his first after playing 199 straight regular-season games—when the Warriors faced Phoenix on Saturday. But he bounced right back, playing against Orlando and knocking down a clutch three late in the game. That shot stretched the Warriors’ lead and showed he’s ready to contribute going forward.

Jonathan Kuminga's Continued Absence
Jonathan Kuminga sat out again with an illness. The Warriors had to shuffle their rotation, but thanks to their depth, they barely missed a beat. Other guards stepped up and filled the gap.

Al Horford's Return Timeline
Coach Steve Kerr sounded optimistic about center Al Horford coming back on Thursday. Horford’s missed seven games with a sciatic nerve issue, but his return should give the Warriors a boost in size and defense as they get ready for the Christmas Day showdown with Dallas.

Game Statistics and Scoring Progression
If you just look at the quarter-by-quarter numbers, you can see how much the Warriors took over in the second half. The stats tell the story: they dominated when it mattered most.

Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring:

  • First Quarter: Magic 30, Warriors 26 (Orlando led by 4)
  • Second Quarter: Magic 27, Warriors 32 (Warriors tied the game)
  • Third Quarter: Magic 26, Warriors 31 (Warriors took control)
  • Fourth Quarter: Magic 14, Warriors 31 (Warriors dominated)
  • Final Score: Warriors 120, Magic 97 (Warriors +23)

 Orlando just fell apart in the fourth quarter—scoring only 14 points while the Warriors dropped 31. Once Golden State grabbed the momentum in the third, the game was basically theirs.

Now, let’s talk about what’s next. The Warriors are hanging onto a .500 record at 15-15, so every game matters from here on out.

Christmas Day is a big one. The Warriors host the Mavericks in a nationally televised showdown. It’s not just about holiday bragging rights—this is a real chance for Golden State to show the rest of the league they can hang with top teams in the West.

Playoff-wise, the Warriors are still right in the mix, but they need to pick up some wins if they want to avoid the play-in tournament. Beating Orlando helped, but what really stood out was how Curry and the rest of the crew stepped up when it counted. That’s what you want to see from your stars.

Monday’s 120-97 win was all about the second half. Curry caught fire after a slow start (he went just 3-for-13 early but poured in 18 of his 26 points after halftime). Guys like Butler, Moody, and Podziemski chipped in, too. Suddenly, the Warriors looked like the dangerous team everyone expects—resilient, explosive, and tough to put away.

Heading into the Dallas game, Golden State finally has some momentum. They’ll need it, because the next few matchups could decide where they land in the playoff race—and just how serious their title shot really is.