Seeking to put Sunday’s abomination of a efficiency in opposition to the Warriors behind them, the Spurs had been again at house to face the Orlando Magic in a sport that ought to have taken place two weeks in the past however was moved for the Spurs’ make-up sport in opposition to the Lakers. The Spurs actually appeared a lot better on this sport, main a lot of the time and taking part in nicely on each ends, however finally, Orlando’s 2nd ranked protection took over as they pulled away within the second half of the fourth quarter, handing the Spurs a 105-116 loss.
With Bismack Biyombo again within the beginning lineup as a consequence of no Jeremy Sochan (again spasms) or Charles Bassey, the veteran trio of him, Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul helped get the Spurs out to fast 19-13 lead wonderful minutes in because of hitting 7-8 from the sphere, together with their first 3 threes. The Magic briefly wakened and retook the lead after a timeout, however the Spurs stayed sizzling, getting 8 factors from Julian Champagnie off the bench, and so they ended the quarter up 34-29 on 72% taking pictures from the sphere, together with 6-8 from three, to assist offset 8 turnovers.
The Spurs remained sizzling within the second quarter, however Franz Wagner was even hotter 12 factors within the first 5 minutes to tie issues again up at 45 apiece. Ultimately, what had been free-flowing offense for each groups turned a way more bodily match with loads of frustration directed in direction of the refs from each side. The groups traded the lead earlier than the Spurs tied issues up at 61-61 on the half because of a Barnes buzzer-beating dunk.
The Spurs continued their development of taking part in higher out of halftime after nearly two seasons of notoriously dangerous third quarters, opening on an 8-0 run. Champagnie remained sizzling, hitting a few off-balance threes to assist preserve that lead, and so they acquired the lead out to double-digit at 81-71 because of a Devin Vassell transition layup. It was the Magic’s flip to wrestle taking good care of the ball because the Spurs’ upped their defensive effort, however a chaotic sequence of turnovers and missed layups within the last minute allowed Orlando to chop the result in 84-79 heading into the fourth quarter.
Sandro Mamukelashvili hit a 3 to begin the quarter, however the Magic responded with an 8-2 run to tie issues again up, and that was the start of the tip. The Spurs’ final lead was 93-91 with 7:29 left earlier than their struggles taking good care of the ball returned, and the Magic lastly inserted their will and went on a 13-2 run to retake the lead and stretch it out to double figures, 105-95 with slightly below 4 minutes left. The Spurs had nothing left within the tank to make a comeback, and it was the identical previous story as the previous few occasions they’ve performed good Japanese Convention groups: good effort however no cube.
Sport Notes
The primary half was becoming for April Idiot’s Day, with each groups thriving in what needs to be their weaknesses. The Magic, who’re the worst three-point taking pictures staff within the league, hit 12-29 from past the arc. The Spurs had been a good-but-more-reserved 8-16 from three, however that was in no small half because of them spending extra time proudly owning the paint battle 28-10, which mustn’t have been the case in opposition to the a lot bigger Magic. Issues returned to regular within the second half, the place the Magic had been cooled off a bit (however not sufficient) from three whereas additionally outscoring the Spurs within the paint partially by having a 21-4 benefit in second-chance factors.
There’s all the time a random “who?” participant who appears to go off on the Spurs, and this time it was Caleb Houstan, a third-year participant out of Michigan. He completed with 12 factors on 4-8 taking pictures from three, even giving the Spurs’ bench a couple of stare downs within the second half. One other participant who burned them from three was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, one of many final true three-and-D gamers within the league who had 23 factors on 7-9 taking pictures from three. They had been the primary supply of the Magic’s unusually good night time from three.
Biyombo is all the time prepared. After two straight DNP’s, he was proper again within the beginning lineup and instantly made an affect with two fast buckets, and he completed the sport with 11 factors, 5 rebounds and a couple of blocks. Whereas he’s not the reply at backup heart going ahead, I might not complain if the Spurs re-sign him as a veteran presence and third string heart in the event that they select to maneuver on from Bassey (who has additionally doubtless confirmed to not be the reply at as Wemby’s backup).
Play of the Sport
These two off-balance threes from Champagnie, who normally thrives off the catch-and-shoot, confirmed it was a type of nights for him.
Up subsequent: Wednesday at Nuggets
Within the second sport of a 4 sport stretch the place the Spurs must journey and alter time zones between every sport, they’re headed to Denver to face a Nuggets staff that’s combating for the second seed, all on the second night time of a again to again with no time to acclimate to the altitude. Not anticipating April upset like final yr.
