For the Orlando Magic, matchups towards groups under them within the standings aren’t imagined to really feel like uphill battles from the beginning.
But that’s precisely what Tuesday’s 132-114 highway loss become towards the San Antonio Spurs (18-50).
And every time it appeared the Magic (28-41) had been going to climb over the hill, the Spurs buried certainly one of their franchise-best 22 3-pointers to forestall Orlando from tying the sport or take the lead.
The Magic’s lack of physicality defensively allowed the Spurs to get snug and in a capturing rhythm from past the arc early.
San Antonio made 6 of 9 3s within the first quarter and 10 of 18 photographs from past the arc within the first half to take a 67-61 lead.
After trailing by 17 halfway by way of the third, the Magic stored chipping away, slicing the deficit to 6-9 factors a number of occasions. They trailed 112-106 after Cole Anthony (14 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists off the bench) made a pull-up jumper with 6:28 remaining.
But the Spurs, led by rookie ahead Jeremy Sochan (29 factors, 11 rebounds) continued to share the ball and pile on the 3s, working away with the sport late. San Antonio had 39 assists on 48 made baskets.
“It’s definitely a tough loss,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned. “You really do have to tip your hat to San Antonio. They played their tails off. They brought it to us. This one stings. It hurts because it’s one we let get away from us.”
Paolo Banchero scored a team-high 27 factors on 11-of-21 capturing to go together with 6 rebounds. Seven Magic gamers scored in double figures, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to beat Orlando always permitting dribble penetration into the paint that led to 3s.
Second-year ahead Franz Wagner (11 factors and 4 assists in 28 minutes) began regardless of spraining his proper ankle in Saturday’s house win over the Miami Heat.
Heat guard Kyle Lowry fell on Wagner’s ankle as each had been working up the ground after a Miami missed basket with round 9 minutes remaining within the recreation. Play continued for about 20 seconds, with Wagner hobbling on the ankle till Magic coach Jamahl Mosley was in a position to name a timeout.
The Magic mentioned X-rays on Wagner’s ankle had been damaging, that means no harm was proven, earlier than including the prognosis was a sprain.
His standing getting into Saturday was questionable earlier than being upgraded to out there 1 1/2 hours forward of tipoff.
“Obviously, him not being at 100%, his willingness to battle and push through,” Mosley mentioned of what he noticed from Wagner. “It says so much about his competitive spirit, nature and willingness to find any way he can to impact winning. That’s the way he conducts himself.”
Wagner’s missed simply three video games due to harm since being the No. 8 decide within the 2021 draft, all of which got here on the finish of final season due to a sprained proper ankle.
The lone recreation he sat for this season was due to the suspensions given to a number of gamers after a Dec. 28 altercation between the Magic and Pistons in Detroit.
Wagner sprained his left ankle and had an early exit in a win over the Charlotte Hornets earlier within the month however was out there for the subsequent recreation.
Tuesday kicked off a four-game journey, with matchups towards the Phoenix Suns (Thursday), Los Angeles Clippers (Saturday) and Los Angeles Lakers (Sunday) forward.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
