Programming note: Warriors-Magic coverage starts today at 3:30 p.m. with Warriors Pregame Live on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (territory restrictions apply)
After going into Miami Tuesday night and winning there for the third season in a row, the Warriors are continuing a trend that started last season.
They truly have become Road Warriors.
The Warriors are 24-9 over their last 33 road games, dating back to last season. They're 6-1 this season on the road and will try to go 7-1 on the road for the first time in franchise history Wednesday night, when they face the vulnerable Orlando Magic at Amway Center.
If the last two games are any indication, the Warriors (11-2) once again will be pushed by a scrappy team tired of losing. The constant in their wins at Oklahoma City and Miami was defense.
"You're not going to win every game blowing people out in the first half," guard Stephen Curry said late Tuesday night. "We've understood how to win in different ways. So we just try to stick with the process and play defense, and hopefully things will work out our way."
The formula has produced six consecutive wins overall, three routs and three games decided in the final minutes. They've scored as many as 136 points and as few as 91.
"The beauty of this team is we can play both ends," coach Steve Kerr said. "We have the personnel to score and we have the personnel to guard."
Orlando (6-10) has lost three of its last four games. With injuries piling up, the Magic could use a little magic. Coach Jacque Vaughn is so desperate he's ready to propose an idea the NBA certainly would not approve.
"I wouldn't mind if we can just do the All-Star break right now," Vaughn said on the team's website.
And now here come the streaking Warriors, on a mission to achieve yet another franchise milestone.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Andrew Bogut vs. Nikola Vucevic -- Vucevic is young, active and particularly skilled on offense. He leads the league in double-doubles and is playing as well as any center in the Eastern Conference. Bogut is coming off a game in which he played 32 minutes, about 10 more than the Warriors would have liked.
Draymond Green vs. Channing Frye -- Green relishes the chance to square up on shooters who like to launch from deep. That's Frye. The Magic's offseason pickup (via free agency) leads all NBA power forwards in 3-point shooting, averaging 43.2 percent.
Stephen Curry vs. Victor Oladipo -- Curry will get the first crack at the promising second-year player still learning the nuances of the point guard position. Because of Oladipo's tremendous strength and athleticism, there will be times when Klay Thompson draws the defensive assignment.
INJURY REPORT
Warriors – F David Lee (strained left hamstring) is listed as being out indefinitely. The Warriors don't expect him to play on the road trip but hope he can return as early as their next home game, Dec. 2 against the Magic.
Magic – F Tobias Harris (strained left calf) and G Evan Fournier (quad contusion) are questionable. F Aaron Gordon (fractured fifth metatarsal, left foot), F Kyle O'Quinn (sprained left ankle) and G Devyn Marble (strained right rotator cuff) are out listed as being indefinitely.
SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors last season swept the Magic (2-0) for the first time since 1991-92 but have lost eight of the last 11 meetings overall. They have lost 16 of the last 20 games in Orlando.
