The Magic left town for a four-game, seven-day Western swing, tied for the best record in the Eastern Conference. They expect to return home still in the same spot or better. Unlike many teams, they expect to win on the road as easily as they win at home. "Going out, I'd expect us to go 4-0 on this trip," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "That would be my expectation."
The Magic won their opening game on the trip, outlasting Golden State on Saturday, and they return to action Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Clippers.
They have won seven consecutive road games, matching a franchise record, and they can set a new mark against the Clippers.
"You can't be an elite team in this league if you don't know how to win on the road," forward Rashard Lewis said. "Our mind-set now is to win every one."
The Magic are 9-2 on the road this season, tied with Boston for the best road record in the league. They won 27 of their 41 road games in each of the last two seasons. Last season, in two West Coast swings, the Magic were 8-1.
After the Clippers, the Magic will see the Suns and the Jazz on this trip before returning home.
"We go on the road, and we expect to dominate," Dwight Howard said.
MAGIC 126, WARRIORS 118: Vince Carter had 27 points, seven assists and five rebounds, carrying the Magic to a hard-than-expected victory to open their West Coast trip. The Magic led by 16 in the first half, then trailed by six points midway in the fourth quarter. Yet they closed strong with a 13-0 run when the Warriors missed nine consecutive shots late in the game. Mickael Pietrus had 22 points and Rashard Lewis had 20, and Orlando shot 52.7 percent from the field.
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