It was one other up and down affair for the San Antonio Spurs of their 108-98 loss to the Orlando Magic. Regardless of getting off to a sizzling begin, and ending the sport on an enormous run, the Silver and Black couldn’t crawl out of the deficit they created within the second and third quarters.
The Magic’s defensive stress brought about large issues for San Antonio all sport. Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Isaac particularly had been menaces on the level of assault and within the paint. Orlando brought about the Spurs to show the ball over 19 occasions, and scored 10 factors straight off these turnovers. That smothering protection brought about San Antonio to shoot simply 45% from the sector total, and 29% from deep on 31 makes an attempt.
The Spurs first quarter efficiency didn’t point out they’d battle offensively. From tip-off the Silver and Black had been aggressive, significantly Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell. Exterior of a Dominick Barlow layup, that trio scored all the Spurs first quarter factors. Vassell particularly was stable all night time. He completed with 26 factors and 4 assists, hitting large pictures down the stretch.
Orlando ratcheted up their defensive stress within the second and third quarters, holding the Spurs to 21 factors in every quarter. San Antonio merely couldn’t discover an offensive rhythm whereas Orlando grinded out beauty offensively. Within the third quarter that stagnant offense was exacerbated by sloppy ball safety.
“Too many turnovers and dry possessions,” Vassell instructed reporters within the submit sport press convention. “We had them doing layup strains.”
The Spurs gave up a 17-0 run to the Magic within the third quarter, permitting them to construct a 20+ level lead. San Antonio went scoreless for 4 minutes of that quarter. They had been outscored 34-21 within the third body.
Simply when it gave the impression to be over, Blake Wesley bought a number of steals that seemingly shifted momentum ever so barely. Within the fourth quarter, the Spurs lastly started to knock down threes and get out in transition. Tre Jones, Vassell and Sochan led the Spurs cost again within the fourth. Jones was aggressive on the break, pushing the tempo and discovering shooters in rhythm. He completed with 8 factors, 8 assists and three steals. Sochan was aggressive attending to the basket and hit an enormous three to chop the result in single digits. Sochan had 18 factors and 12 rebounds.
The Spurs went on a 21-2 run with out Wembanyama within the fourth quarter. With 2 minutes to go they discovered themselves down by simply three. Some premature turnovers and poor capturing on the free throw line doomed the Spurs, as they couldn’t full the comeback at residence.
San Antonio might be tasked with enjoying a full-48 agains the New Orleans Pelicans of their subsequent contest on Friday night time. They dropped their final matchup with the Pelicans 121-106.
Recreation notes:
On paper it was a superb efficiency for Wembanyama. The rookie had 21 factors, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks. On the ground it appeared like he had much less of an affect than he historically would. Isaac made issues powerful on the large man inside. He could also be one of many few gamers who can trouble Wembanyama together with his size. Wemby was deterring pictures across the rim, however wasn’t contesting a number of floaters and five-footers that Orlando was in a position to recover from him. Discovering a strategy to not less than get a hand as much as disrupt these pictures might be an enormous a part of his defensive growth.
Malaki Branham discovered his approach again into the rotation tonight with accidents to Zach Collins and Keldon Johnson. The sophomore didn’t make a lot of an affect, placing up 4 factors and 4 rebounds off the bench. He was in a position to get to his spot on a mid-range jumper within the third quarter. Discovering him reps to get him comfy once more ought to be a high precedence heading into the second half of the season. Whether or not that’s in San Antonio or Austin.
It’s onerous to come back out of this sport not impressed with the Magic. Their protection is legit with a number of 6-foot-10 or taller gamers on the courtroom on the similar time. Isaac brought about issues all night time together with his 4 blocks. Paolo Banchero is a drive inside, and Franz Wagner is without doubt one of the smoothest wings within the league. In the event that they add some capturing and a go-to scoring guard, they might be a contender within the East.
