On Monday, December 22, 2025, the Golden State Warriors found their spark at home. After a choppy first half and some concern over Stephen Curry’s tender left ankle, Golden State blew past the Orlando Magic 120-97 at Chase Center, riding a ruthless second-half surge that looked like vintage Warriors basketball.

This one flipped after the break. Curry, who looked human early, came out firing in the third and poured in 18 of his 26 points after halftime. That unlocked a 14-4 Warriors run and set the stage for a dominant fourth quarter, where Golden State outscored Orlando 31-14 and closed the game with energy, defense, and smart shot-making.

Stephen Curry’s switch flips the night

Curry started slowly, feeling out the game and that ankle. But the second half was a different story. He hit timely threes, got downhill, and bent the Magic defense into scramble mode. He finished with 26 points on 10-of-23 shooting, 4-of-13 from deep, plus 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. It wasn’t a fireworks box score — it was a floor general’s clinic when the game needed it.

That third-quarter pop was the difference. Once Curry found rhythm, the Warriors’ spacing improved, ball movement snapped into place, and Orlando’s rotations got late. The 14-4 run midway through the third was the game’s pivot.

“That ankle looked shaky, then he flipped the game like only Steph does.”

A bench jolt: Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski

Golden State’s depth carried real weight. Moses Moody gave the Warriors a clean scoring lane off the bench, dropping 20 points on a super-efficient 8-of-11 from the field. He picked spots, ran the lane, and hit open looks. It felt simple — and that’s exactly what this offense needs from him.

Rookie guard Brandin Podziemski added 16 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. He played with pace and control, stringing together drives and kick-outs that helped Curry work off the ball. When Podziemski is steady like this, the Warriors look balanced.

“Moody’s patience is paying off — he changes the energy when he checks in.”

Draymond’s edge returns, defense locks in

Draymond Green returned to the floor after his ejection against Phoenix on Saturday and played 18 sharp minutes. He posted 9 points and 7 rebounds and, more importantly, reset Golden State’s defensive tone. The Warriors finished with 8 steals and repeatedly turned stops into easy points the other way.

That’s the Warriors’ blueprint: defend, run, and make teams chase shooters to the corners. When they did that in the fourth, Orlando ran out of answers.

Magic’s road test: Banchero does it all, Bane adds punch

Orlando arrived for the first night of a back-to-back and the start of a four-game trip, and for a half they had the legs. Paolo Banchero was excellent again, leading the Magic with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. He was patient in the post, drew help, and kept Orlando within reach through three quarters.

Desmond Bane added 20 points for the Magic, giving them another shot-maker on a night when looks were tough. Buddy Hield snapped a 199-game streak but still drilled a late three-pointer. The pieces were there; the finishing burst was not.

Orlando now heads to Portland on Tuesday to continue the trip and search for a bounce-back.

Score, stats, and the moments that mattered

Golden State won the math and the moments. The Warriors shot 51.7% from the field to the Magic’s 41.4%, and they controlled the glass of the game in the second half by getting to their spots early. When the ball moved, the shots fell; when the defense tightened, the game sped up in their favor.

• Final score: Warriors 120, Magic 97
• Quarter-by-quarter: Magic 30-26; Warriors 32-27; Warriors 31-26; Warriors 31-14
• Warriors field goal percentage: 51.7%; Magic: 41.4%
• Warriors steals: 8
• Stephen Curry: 26 points (18 after halftime), 6 assists, 2 steals
• Moses Moody: 20 points (8/11 FG)
• Brandin Podziemski: 16 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds
• Draymond Green: 9 points, 7 rebounds (18 minutes)
• Paolo Banchero: 21 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists; Desmond Bane: 20 points

Context and what’s next

There are housekeeping notes that matter too. Jonathan Kuminga missed the game due to illness. Green’s return brought an edge the Warriors needed. And the schedule ramps quickly: Golden State hosts Dallas on Thursday in a Christmas week matinee, while Orlando’s road trip continues in Portland on Tuesday.

As for the standings, the Warriors move back to even, listed as 15-15 by one source (14-15 by another), and a strong 9-4 at home. The Magic fall to either 16-13 or 16-12 depending on the source. It’s December, but these games stack up fast, and both teams know the margin in the West and East can be thin.

“If the Warriors defend like this, .500 won’t be a ceiling.”

Big picture: A formula Golden State can trust

This was a reminder that the Warriors don’t need a Curry explosion every night; they need a Curry ignition. His second-half burst opened the floor, Moody and Podziemski carried the load behind him, and the defense squeezed a young Magic team that has to learn how to win late on the road.

The fourth quarter told the story in plain numbers: 31-14. That’s focus. That’s hands in passing lanes. That’s the extra box-out. Those are the plays that carry in March and April, not just on a Monday in December.

For the Magic, there’s no shame in the first night of a back-to-back getting away late, especially against a team that knows how to close at home. But the lesson is simple: turnovers and empty trips fuel runs in this building. Banchero’s all-around game keeps them competitive; finding a steady second-half gear on the road is the next step.

For the Warriors, the checklist is clear. Keep Curry healthy. Keep the bench confident. Keep the defense loud. Do that, and nights like this — efficient, controlled, and decisive — will become a pattern, not a one-off.

Next up: Dallas comes to town. Another test, another chance to prove the blueprint travels.