One night time after shedding to the Miami Warmth, the Spurs have been up the street to tackle the up-and-coming Orlando Magic, and just like final week’s match-up, the Magic used the center quarters to place the Spurs away and staved off any comeback makes an attempt. After a sluggish offensive first half for the Spurs, it regarded just like the Magic have been going to utterly put them away within the third quarter by making 9 of their 16 threes, however a heroic effort from Devin Vassell stored them alive earlier than the Magic pulled away late at hand the Spurs a 111-127 loss, their sixth straight.
Vassell had 23 of his 30 factors all within the third quarter to forestall the sport from turning right into a blowout however didn’t get far more assist. Franz Wagner exploded for 34 factors on 13-17 taking pictures to guide six Magic gamers in double figures.
Observations
If the Magic don’t hit 9 threes within the third quarter (you by no means would have recognized they’re the twenty ninth worst three-point taking pictures group on this one), Vassell’s third quarter efficiency would have stood out much more and probably even modified the course of the sport. He scored 23 factors, making him the primary Spur to attain that a lot in a single quarter since play-by-play was launched in 1996-97. It additionally made him simply the 18th participant within the NBA in that point span to attain 23 or extra factors in 1 / 4 on 100% taking pictures with 9 or extra subject targets made (hat tip: Dan Weiss). In the end, all it did was carry what had been a 23-point deficit all the way down to 10 heading into the fourth quarter, and one other Magic run within the fourth was an excessive amount of to beat.
Victor Wembanyama continues to look torpid on the courtroom, transferring slowly and with out a lot function. He had 15 factors in simply 23 minutes however solely grabbed 1 rebound and was stripped down low a number of instances by the Magic’s swarming protection. Whether or not it’s the rookie wall, readjusting after the prolonged time on minutes restrictions, or the cedar fever remains to be bothering him (voice of expertise: it may possibly final for weeks), he hasn’t been the identical participant that received January Western Convention Rookie of the Month.
With out doing the mathematics, I’m guessing the Spurs have became one of many worst technical free throw taking pictures groups of late. They’ve missed a number of over the past couple of weeks, together with one other one right this moment after Wendell Carter Jr. was T-ed up for “slinging” Jeremy Sochan to the bottom on a bounce ball. The Spurs aren’t a foul free throw taking pictures group — they sit in the course of the league at 77.7 % — however there’s one thing about standing on the line alone, in a manner underneath extra stress than an everyday free throw, that has gotten to them these days.
The Spurs proceed their Rodeo Highway Journey on Saturday in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets. Tipoff will likely be at 5:00 PM CT on KENS 5.
