There is no mercy in the NBA, where 21 hours after a stunning loss in Miami the Warriors, minus Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala, will suit up Thursday hoping to recover against the Magic in Orlando.
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Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 3 o'clock with Warriors Pregame Live, followed by tipoff from Amway Center scheduled for shortly after 4.
With Durant (rest) and Iguodala (illness) sitting out the first of five back-to-back sets over the final six weeks, the Warriors (43-18) face a team that has been rather accommodating in recent years. In four-plus seasons under coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors are 9-0 against the Magic.
Moreover, the Warriors have won the last 11 games against Orlando, most recently taking a 116-110 victory on Nov. 26 at Oracle Arena.
Orlando (28-34) is, like Miami, fighting for a spot in the bottom half of the playoff seeding in the Eastern Conference. The Magic are playing well, bouncing back from a four-game losing streak in late January to win eight their last 11.
The Warriors can't take anything for granted, though, particularly after falling to a Heat team that had lost nine of its last 11, including to the lottery-bound Suns on Monday.
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PROJECTED LINEUPS
Warriors
F Alfonzo McKinnie
F Draymond Green
C DeMarcus Cousins
G Klay Thompson
G Stephen Curry
Magic
F Jonathan Isaac
F Aaron Gordon
C Nikola Vucevic
G Evan Fournier
G D. J. Augustin
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: F Jonas Jerebko (R thigh contusion) is listed as probable. F Kevin Durant (rest), G Andre Iguodala (illness) and C Damian Jones (L pectoral surgery) are listed as out.
Magic: G Isaiah Briscoe (concussion protocol) is listed as doubtful. C Mo Bamba (L tibia stress fracture), G Markelle Fultz (thoracic outlet syndrome) and C Timofey Mozgov (R knee surgery) are listed as out.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors: The absences of Durant (missing his first game this season) and Iguodala has a dramatic affect on the rotation, leaving McKinnie as the only true wing. Expect Damion Lee and also Thompson to get minutes at small forward.
Curry has shot below 40 percent from deep in more games (six) than not (four) this month. He is 8-of-28 (28.6 pct.) over the last two games.
Jerebko is expected to play, with Jordan Bell also getting minutes at power forward (to match up with Gordon) as well as center.
[RELATED: Why Warriors have solutions to end lull but also trouble applying them]
Thompson is making a strong case for Player of the Month, averaging 23.9 ppg in February on 52.6-percent shooting, including 50.0 percent from deep. His 3.7 apg is the second-highest of any month in his career.
The Warriors are No.1 in offensive rating (116.0), scoring (118.9 ppg), field-goal percentage (49.0) and assists (29.4 pg). They are 29th in points in the paint.
Magic: Vucevic is having a fabulous season, averaging a team-best 20.6 ppg and 12.0 rebounds. He's shooting 39.3 percent beyond the arc.
Terrence Ross the Sixth Man, continues to run hot and cold. His scoring totals over his last five games: 3, 21, 15, 28 and 3. He played at least 18 minutes in all five games.
San Jose native Gordon is averaging 15.8 ppg, along with 7.3 rebounds. He has scored in double figures in 25 of the last 26 games. In addition to Ross, key players off the bench have been Wesley Iwundu and Jerian Grant.
Orlando ranks 25th in scoring (105.9 ppg), 23rd in offensive rating (106.8) and 21st in FG pct. (45.1). The deliberate, jump-shooting Magic are 27th in pace and 29th in fast-break points and free throw attempts and dead last in points in the paint.
Officials: Mike Callahan (chief), JT Orr, Leroy Richardson
