The Spurs couldn’t full a comeback in opposition to the Magic regardless of Devin Vassell’s standout efficiency. The wing scored 23 factors within the third quarter alone however his manufacturing wasn’t sufficient to hold a drained San Antonio group, because the Silver and Black misplaced to the Magic 127-111 within the second sport of the Rodeo Highway Journey.
A very good begin is what the Spurs wanted within the second sport of a back-to-back after shedding in Miami, however they couldn’t make it occur. The offense was caught in mud, with the ball transferring however not attending to any open man and nobody in a position to create a bonus. On protection, there have been issues in transition largely as a result of crossmatching. San Antonio was enjoying onerous, however not getting a lot going in opposition to a Magic group that performed nice protection for stretches however wasn’t sharp sufficient on offense to create separation. The low scoring continued because the benches checked in, however the Silver and Black regarded extra sprightly, with Blake Wesley main the best way. The second unit closed the small hole Orlando had managed to carve out, however the residence group was main by three after one because of the manufacturing from its frontcourt.
The problems for the starters continued within the second body, as they struggled to make entry passes to Victor Wembanyama, who didn’t make issues any higher by making some questionable choices. As soon as Wesley and some different bench gamers checked in, the Spurs began to look higher as soon as once more, helped by a zone protection that made life onerous for Orlando. The issue is the Magic upped their depth on protection and began inflicting turnovers that resulted in straightforward transition buckets or pushed the tempo after missed threes to search out mismatches and pressure San Antonio to assist. Devin Vassell and Tre Jones had been invisible, all through the half and Wembanyama alternated good performs with dangerous performs, so not even with the second unit stepping up might the Spurs stop the Magic’s lead from reaching 23 at one level and sit at 17 on the break.
Vassell would come alive within the third quarter, delivering a implausible scoring efficiency that confirmed off his jumper however, greater than something, his skill to get to the rim en path to 23 factors within the body. Tre Jones additionally confirmed indicators of life after a disastrous first half. The Spurs dropped 41 factors in 12 minutes after scoring simply 44 in a complete half, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to mount a comeback, for 2 causes. First, the Magic caught fireplace from outdoors, with Franz Wagner main the best way, and dropped 37 factors to maintain up with Vassell and San Antonio. Second, Wembanyama, as Gregg Popovich put it, had durations when he ran out of gasoline within the second sport of a back-to-back, and it affected the group on each ends, as he tried to pressure issues at occasions on offense whereas not being the difference-maker he usually is on protection.
Orlando was forward by 13 to start out the fourth, so the sport wasn’t essentially out of attain, however the Spurs had already made their huge push because of Vassell and it appeared unlikely they might muster up the power to get sufficient stops to chip away on the lead. The Magic stored driving to the rim and San Antonio might at greatest commerce buckets. Because the minutes handed and the deficit remained firmly within the double-digits, it grew to become clear there could be no comeback. Each time there was a spark that impressed some optimism, Orlando would get a well timed offensive board or steal that resulted in factors once they wanted them. The higher, extra well-rested group didn’t need to attempt too onerous ultimately to safe a cushty win in opposition to a feisty however drained and inconsistent opponent.
Recreation notes
Pop was open about how back-to-backs are nonetheless a brand new expertise for Wembanyama and the way he, as talked about, runs out of gasoline at occasions. Wemby regarded drained. He nonetheless logged 15 factors and three blocks and truly had greater than the one rebound he was credited with knocking down, nevertheless it was a foul sport for the rookie. It occurs.
Vassell didn’t rating in the complete first half after which dropped 23 factors in 1 / 4, essentially the most out of anybody in a single body within the Popovich period. When Vassell is aggressive, he reveals star potential. The issue is his inconsistency. It’s his first yr in such a giant position, so it’s not shocking that he hasn’t absolutely adjusted to it but but when he does, the Spurs can have considered one of their key items in place.
The Spurs’ forwards had been severely outplayed by their Magic counterparts. Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and even Joe Ingles had higher video games than Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie. San Antonio performed a whole lot of zone partly as a result of nobody might guard Banchero or Wagner one on one.
Tre Jones was horrible within the first half earlier than enjoying higher within the second, however Blake Wesley was able to carry his common power off the bench to make up for Jones’ lackadaisical play on Thursday. Wesley was a pest on protection and he completed with 10 factors and 7 assists to 1 turnover. The Spurs didn’t commerce for some extent guard on the deadline but when Wesley retains exhibiting enchancment, they gained’t remorse their choice.
The Spurs received some good minutes from Zach Collins, who scored 12 factors whereas solely lacking one shot — his solely three-point try — and logged three assists and two blocks. Collins shouldn’t be the stretch 5 the teaching employees needed him to be, however he’s nonetheless a stable huge man.
Malaki Branham performed 20 minutes and appears more likely to get no less than a few of the enjoying time that used to go to McDermott. Will probably be fascinating to see what he does with it. Proper now he’s nonetheless a minus defender who can’t shoot however can preserve the ball transferring. The largest factor for him will likely be to indicate depth and focus each time he’s on the ground and he did an honest job of it in opposition to Orlando.
Play of the evening
Devin Vassell will get the momentary swap and simply assaults the massive man. He wants to do that much more persistently, particularly with how a lot consideration Wembanyama attracts when the 2 are on the ground collectively.
Subsequent sport: at Brooklyn Nets on Saturday
The Spurs will go to the new-look Nets this weekend. Brooklyn was busy on the commerce deadline and has Ben Simmons again. It must be an fascinating matchup.
