Golden State Warriors

ORLANDO, Fla. — On a night when Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney scored their season-high in points and Stephen Curry dropped another 30-plus point performance, the Warriors once again faltered late Thursday, falling to the young, injury-plagued Orlando Magic 130-129.

Thompson, who played his best game of the season, had a buzzer-beating shot hit the rim as time expired.

The Warriors’ road woes continue as they remain winless in their five games away from Chase Center.

Thursday night was the Warriors’ game to lose. Ultimately, it ended up being the same story, different night. The Magic attempted 46 free throws to the Warriors’ 15 as Golden State’s fouling issues persist.

The Warriors led by as many as 16 points in the third quarter but entered the fourth with just a two-point advantage after the Magic had outscored them 43-33 to start the second half. They didn’t get enough stops and had too many untimely turnovers that the Magic capitalized on.

“It goes back to our will to defend and our attention to detail on that side of the ball,” Draymond Green said.

With so many young players and new faces being incorporated, the Warriors, mainly the reserves, haven’t been able to build a defensive identity and find cohesiveness on that side of the ball. That’s part of the reason, coach Steve Kerr said after the loss that the Warriors double-figure lead never felt solid.

“I told the guys we have to save us because nobody else is coming,” Kerr said. “Every team can’t wait to play us… We’re the defending champs, we come in here and they can’t wait to play us. And if you’re not defending and you’re fouling, you’re putting yourself in a dangerous spot.”

Curry tried to save the Warriors, but even his efforts weren’t enough.

A Curry 3-pointer tied the game at 126 with a minute remaining. But Jalen Suggs responded on the other end with a 3 of his own. Ray Charles’ song “Hit the Road Jack” started blaring in an electric Orlando arena as Suggs went to the line for a pair of free throws. He missed the first one, but made the second.

Thompson hit a corner 3 to pull within one of the Magic, who turned the ball over on their next possession with five seconds left.

Thompson couldn’t stir up the same magic with his next shot.

“Klay tried to free himself up, I think he took one dribble and pulled up and shot that floater, not an easy shot,” Kerr said. “But Steph [who was double teamed] made the right play.”

Orlando won their second game of the season as the reigning champs lost their fourth consecutive game.

Curry scored 11 of his team-high 39 points in the fourth quarter. He also contributed nine assists and three rebounds.

Thompson and Curry combined to go 15-of-30 from deep. That alone, Green said, should’ve won the Warriors their game.

Thompson opened the night nailing his first three shots from deep, including one after picking off a Franz Wagner pass, and didn’t cool off from there. By midway through the third quarter, Thompson had already notched a season high in 3s, making six in 17 minutes.

He finished with a season-high 27 points on 13-of-22 shooting (7-of-15 from deep). He also grabbed four rebounds and handed out three assists.

Looney was also impressive, recording a career-high 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting. In addition, he grabbed seven rebounds and had three assists.

Meanwhile, Wiseman had another tough night. The Warriors led by six in the opening quarter when he and Poole checked in for Thompson and Looney. The Magic went on a 9-2 run before Wiseman went back to the bench.

He disrupted a pass to Wendell Carter Jr. in the third quarter, but failed to box out and grab rebounds. He picked up a tech in the third quarter for throwing the ball in frustration after getting called for a third foul.

Wiseman finished with just two points on 1-of-3 shooting and three rebounds in 10 minutes.

The Warriors, who didn’t lose four straight games last season until after the All-Star break, are now 3-6 and will play the second game of a back-to-back Friday night in New Orleans before returning home after an ugly trip out east.

Golden State played all their starters, except Thompson, on the backend of the team’s first back-to-back to start the trip.

“We gotta bounce back,” Kerr said. “It’s been a tough trip, one more game and there will be a lot of work ahead.”