Spurs can’t complete comeback in second-straight loss

It was another up and down affair for the San Antonio Spurs in their 108-98 loss to the Orlando Magic. Despite getting off to a hot start, and finishing the game on a big run, the Silver and Black couldn’t crawl out of the deficit they created in the second and third quarters.

The Magic’s defensive pressure caused big problems for San Antonio all game. Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Isaac in particular were menaces at the point of attack and in the paint. Orlando caused the Spurs to turn the ball over 19 times, and scored 10 points directly off those turnovers. That smothering defense caused San Antonio to shoot just 45% from the field overall, and 29% from deep on 31 attempts.

The Spurs first quarter performance didn’t indicate they would struggle offensively. From tip-off the Silver and Black were aggressive, particularly Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell. Outside of a Dominick Barlow layup, that trio scored all of the Spurs first quarter points. Vassell in particular was solid all night. He finished with 26 points and 4 assists, hitting big shots down the stretch.

In the second and third quarters, Orlando increased their defensive pressure and held the Spurs to 21 points per quarter. Orlando consistently produced quality looks on offense, while San Antonio struggled to establish an offensive rhythm. In the third quarter, poor ball security made the offense’s stagnation worse.

Vassell complained to reporters during the news conference following the game, “Too many turnovers and dry possessions.” “They performed layup lines for us.”

The Magic built a 20+ point advantage in the third quarter thanks to a 17-0 run that the Spurs allowed them to score. For the first four minutes of that quarter, San Antonio was scoreless. The third period saw them outscored 34–21.

Blake Wesley pulled off a couple of steals just as it seemed to be finished, which seemed to slightly alter the flow. The Spurs started to make three-pointers and get out in transition in the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, Tre Jones, Vassell, and Sochan spearheaded the Spurs’ comeback. Jones drove the pace during the break and found shooters who were rhythmic. He ended with three steals, eight assists, and eight points. In an ambitious move to get to the basket, Sochan made a big three-pointer to reduce the lead to just ten points. Sochan finished with 12 rebounds and 18 points.

In the fourth quarter, the Spurs embarked on a 21-2 run sans Wembanyama. With just two minutes remaining, they were down by just three. The Spurs were unable to finish the comeback at home due to a few costly errors and subpar free throw shooting.

In their next game on Friday night, San Antonio will have to play a complete 48 against the New Orleans Pelicans. They lost 121-106 to the Pelicans in their most recent meeting.

Game notes:

Wembanyama gave a good performance, at least on paper. 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 blocks were scored by the youngster. He seemed to have less of an effect on the floor than he usually did. The large man within was put through a lot by Isaac. With his length, he might be one of the few players that can cause Wembanyama any trouble. While Wemby was stopping shots near the hoop, he wasn’t stopping many of the floaters and five-footers that Orlando was able to put in. Developing his ability to block those shots or at least get a hand up will be crucial to his defensive growth.

• Malaki Branham found his way back into the rotation tonight with injuries to Zach Collins and Keldon Johnson. The sophomore didn’t make much of an impact, putting up 4 points and 4 rebounds off the bench. He was able to get to his spot on a mid-range jumper in the third quarter. Finding him reps to get him comfortable again should be a top priority heading into the second half of the season. Whether that’s in San Antonio or Austin.
• It is hard to come out of this game not impressed with the Magic. Their defense is legit with multiple 6-foot-10 or taller players on the court at the same time. Isaac caused problems all night with his 4 blocks. Paolo Banchero is a force inside, and Franz Wagner is one of the smoothest wings in the league. If they add some shooting and a go-to scoring guard, they could be a contender in the East.