Magic Slow Down Spurs in Second Half to Earn Comeback Victory

The Orlando Magic were headed toward a shootout they're not usually accustomed to winning. But their defense settled in the second half, slowing the San Antonio Spurs as the Magic pulled away to a 116-105 road victory.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

The second night of the Orlando Magic's back-to-back was vastly different to the first one.

After the Magic's 27th-ranked offense sputtered its way to only mustering 87 points in Monday's loss to the LA Clippers, Orlando found itself in a shootout 24 minutes into Tuesday's contest with the San Antonio Spurs.

But this Magic team is not equipped to win shootouts. So, when their defense settled, the game flipped.

Orlando reduced San Antonio's offense to just 38.6 percent shooting in the second half. With the help of a 37-21 fourth quarter, the Magic found its footing and defeated their hosts for the evening, 116-105.

"We got a lot of good stops, switched up our defense a little bit," Franz Wagner (24 points) said postgame of Orlando's fourth-quarter defense. "Also got lucky on some plays where they missed some open ones, but definitely our best defensive quarter. That's usually when we get out and run and get a couple easy ones."

In handing the Spurs their fifth straight loss, Orlando improved to 37-40 with five games left to play in the regular season.

The Magic leapfrogged back ahead of Atlanta for the No. 7 spot in the East thanks to the Hawks' loss to Portland. The two divisional foes continue to jockey for Play-In Tournament positioning as the season winds down.

Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero – the East's reigning Player of the Week and a recently nominated candidate for Player of the Month in March – each tallied 24 points to lead the Magic's scoring charge.

Wagner and Banchero set a franchise record for most consecutive games of 20-plus points for a pair of Magic teammates. They've done it in nine straight games, which surpassed Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway's streak of eight games.

It is the second-longest streak in league history by a duo age 23-or-younger. Banchero also joined LeBron James and Luka Doncic as the only players in NBA history to compile at least 4,000 points, 1,300 rebounds and 900 assist in their first three professional seasons.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope drilled a season-high seven threes on his way to 23 points – his first game with seven threes since Jan. 21, 2021, with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"He demanded the basketball; they found him when he was open," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said postgame. "He wasn't afraid to step into his shot. I mean, that's who he is, and that's the experience, the toughness that he brings. That's the level of resilience of who he is as a vet and a champion."

Caleb Houstan added 12 points on four made triples off the bench. They accounted for 11 of the Magic's 18 made threes in the victory.

The box score shows a deviation from Orlando's norm offensively. This season, the Magic score 60.7 percent of their points on free throws or in the lane.

But, the Magic only attempted 31 shots and scored 36 points in the lane against a Spurs team that was giving up the second-most points in the paint post-All-Star break. And, Orlando – the NBA's most frequent free-throw shooting team – only attempted (and made) 12 free throws, which is tied for the second-fewest in a game this year. Only 41.3 percent of Orlando's points came on those opportunities Tuesday.

Yet, the Spurs' second-worst defense since the All-Star break gave up 18 three-point makes on 47 three-point attempts from the Magic. Orlando – still the league's worst three-point shooting team by over two percentage points – is now 5-0 when it makes 18 or more triples in a single game.

"I think it changes our game completely when we have shooting like that and guys can't just sit in there in the paint," Franz Wagner said.

That, along with 20 points scored off of 17 San Antonio turnovers, was enough to earn a much-needed road victory and shake the Clippers loss from memory.

Cole Anthony also returned to the floor for the Magic after 10 total missed games with a left big toe strain. He scored nine points, grabbed five rebounds and dished four assists in 19 minutes.

Up Next

The Magic conclude their two-game road trip with a visit to the Washington Wizards (16-59) for the final time this regular season Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m.

Related Stories on the Orlando Magic

• HOUSTAN IS BASKETBALL-OBSESSED: "He really just cares about basketball and loves the game, loves his teammates, and loves the work that goes into it," Paolo Banchero said of Caleb Houstan. CLICK HERE
• FULTZ, ORLANDO TIES STILL TIGHT: Orlando was home for five years for Markelle Fultz. Although no longer with the team, that feeling hasn't left him. CLICK HERE
• 'WE'RE NOT DONE': The Magic officially know they've got postseason basketball on the horizon. But, that's not deviating their focus from finishing the year strong. CLICK HERE
• ISAAC CANDID ABOUT LESSENED ROLE: "Haven't shot it well, haven't played well overall, so I'm not necessarily blaming anybody or mad at anybody else but myself," Jonathan Isaac said. CLICK HERE

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