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Magic capture hard-fought win vs. Spurs

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on

Published in Basketball

ORLANDO, Fla. — Back at Kia Center for the first time in two weeks, the Magic fought back and forth against the Spurs on Saturday night, searching for momentum to build off of in order to get their season back on track.

In a game that featured 14 leads changes and was tied 12 times, the Magic pulled away in the closing moments to capture a critical home victory.

After Franz Wagner totaled 33 points, Paolo Banchero’s go-ahead jump shot with 24.7 seconds remaining lifted Orlando to a 112-111 victory when the Magic came up with a clutch defensive stop on the Spurs’ final possession.

The Magic fell behind by 13 points in the third quarter before limiting the Spurs to just 23 points in the fourth quarter.

San Antonio (22-27), which acquired All-NBA guard De’Aaron Fox ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, had lost on the road at Charlotte by 1 point less than 24 hours earlier.

The Magic (26-28) remain at home when they host Atlanta on Monday. Orlando has just two games left before the league’s All-Star break.

Starting 5

As Jalen Suggs (left quad contusion) missed his seventh consecutive contest, coach Jamahl Mosley stuck with the same starting as of late: guards Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope along with forwards Banchero and Wagner plus center Goga Bitadze.

Although Banchero hit his first two jump shots, he had just four points by halftime on 2-of-8 shooting.

Banchero, however, found success in the second half when he pieced together 17 points, including the go-ahead bucket.

Wagner provided a boost in the first half when a 12-point second quarter gave him 16 through two quarters. At one point, he scored 10 straight.

Wagner picked up his third foul at 11:08 of third quarter but that didn’t slow him down as he produced 17 points in the final two frames. He added 12 rebounds.

Anthony wasn’t accurate from beyond the arc (1 of 5), but created his own shot in the mid-range and in the paint. He totaled 13 points in 21 minutes.

Wemby factor

Playing in just his second game in Orlando, Wembanyama made it difficult at first for the Magic in the paint.

Even when he wasn’t recording blocks, his length at 7-3 with a near 8-foot wingspan caused problems for Orlando’s drivers. The Magic, though, took advantage when Wembanyama was on the bench and eventually found ways to score in the paint when he returned to the floor.

 

The reigning rookie of the year totaled 18 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in 31 minutes.

But as Orlando got comfortable with his presence, the group outscored San Antonio 56-36 in the paint.

Second unit

Mosley relied on five reserves: Anthony Black, rookie Tristan da Silva, Gary Harris, Wendell Carter Jr. and Jonathan Isaac.

Black was effective again off the bench when he totaled 20 points on 3-of-3 shooting from 3 and attacked the paint often. His second 3-pointer of the night put Orlando ahead by 1 with 5:23 left in the contest.

Isaac was active around the rim with 8 rebounds and 14 points on an efficient night (6 of 7 FG).

Carter notched seven points, but he picked up his fourth foul late in the third quarter when he only played 11 minutes.

3-point difference

Spurs forward Harrison Barnes opened 6 of 6 from 3 and had 18 in the first quarter. He ended 7 of 10 from beyond the arc.

Orlando as an entire group made 10 triples when it shot 33.3% on 30 attempts.

Although San Antonio cooled off from distance, it still made 13 on 30 attempts (43.3%).

Rookie watch

Spurs No. 4 pick Stephon Castle outperformed da Silva (No. 18 pick) in a meeting between two first-round picks who are both headed to the Rising Stars event at NBA All-Star weekend in San Francisco.

Orlando’s rookie hit his first 3 from the corner in the opening frame, but those were lone points of the evening and he only attempted two shots.

Castle racked up 15 points in 29 minutes.


©2025 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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