Magic find keys to success in time for clash with Spurs
The Orlando Magic will look to build on a momentum-changing comeback win when they battle the host San Antonio Spurs on Sunday afternoon.
The Magic head to San Antonio with a two-game winning streak, the most recent victory a 130-120 home victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday. Desmond Bane scored 16 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and sank seven 3-pointers to lead Orlando back from a 14-point deficit.
The Magic dominated the final period, outscoring Toronto 44-21.
"It just continues to say what we're capable of doing," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. "We can sit and watch this and learn from it. What were the things that allowed us to be successful here? That was sharing the basketball, playing with intention, and getting back in transition to keep them from easy baskets."
Anthony Black connected on all 14 of his free-throw attempts while scoring 25 points for Orlando, with Wendell Carter Jr. adding 23 points and Paolo Banchero dropping in 20. Jalen Suggs (14 points, 10 assists) produced a double-double in the win.
"I thought tonight was really huge," Suggs said after the win on Friday. "You never want to lose at home. It really was a mindset to come out through fatigue and through mistakes and play hard and leave it all out there."
Orlando's back-to-back wins came on the heels of a four-game losing streak that began with a setback to the Memphis Grizzlies in London.
"We started having real dialogue before the overseas trip, just being intentional about what we want on both ends of the floor," Bane said. "We have been putting that into action."
The Spurs head home for the second game of a back-to-back after a 111-106 loss to the Hornets in snowy Charlotte on Saturday afternoon. The game was moved up to facilitate San Antonio's return home as difficult travel conditions out of North Carolina were expected.
The Spurs were just as cold as the weather outside for three quarters, trailing by as many as 20 points before rallying to within two when Stephon Castle hit a pair free throws with 1:37 to play.
Rookie guard Dylan Harper paced San Antonio's seven double-figure scorers with 20 points off the bench. Castle and Victor Wembanyama each finished with 16 points while Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie had 13 points apiece. De'Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes both hit for 11.
Barnes played 25 minutes but came off the bench for the initial time in a Spurs uniform. It was the first time since Jan. 14, 2016, when he was with Golden State that has the 33-year old Barnes (who has played 352 games in a row) did not start, breaking a streak of 775 regular-season games as a starter.
"We all occupy a role, and the main focus is winning," Barnes said of coming off the bench. "So it's just trying to figure out ways to impact the game, to still be vocal, to do my part, to help contribute to winning."
San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said bringing Barnes off the bench was part of a plan to get Vassell back into a starting role. Vassell played in his third straight game after missing 13 contests with an adductor injury.
"I just felt like Devin the last couple of games didn't quite find his rhythm, and I thought maybe just getting him back to that starting lineup could maybe get him back in that fold," Johnson said.
San Antonio has alternated losses and wins over its past five games since Jan. 20 and went 8-7 in the month of January.
The Spurs captured the first meeting between the teams 114-112 on Dec. 3 in Orlando.