Orlando Magic Grades: San Antonio Spurs 107, Orlando Magic 79
The San Antonio Spurs steamrolled the Orlando Magic, forcing turnovers from the very start and dominating the game for an easy win heading to the break.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
| Spurs | 30 | 24 | 31 | 22 | 107 |
| Magic | 16 | 21 | 27 | 15 | 79 |
The Orlando Magic knew they had a small margin for error going up against the San Antonio Spurs juggernaut on Wednesday. The margin for error only narrowed with the Serge Ibaka trade and with the deal not getting the final approvals, forcing Terrence Ross to stay on the sidelines.
And then the Magic did not help themselves with some generally sloppy play, turning the ball over nine times in the first quarter. And then the Spurs did not do anything to let the Magic out of those mistakes. LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard knifed through the Magic’s ailing defense.
Quickly, the Spurs put the game out of reach, defeating the Magic 107-79 at Amway Center.
“They are the best defense in the league for a reason,” Nikola Vucevic said. “They did a really good job putting us in tough positions. We didn’t react the right way. We kind of went where they wanted us to go. We didn’t try to break their pressure. That’s why they are the best team in the league. They just play great team basketball on both ends.”
San Antonio played like the better team ripping apart and dominating Orlando throughout the game. The Magic trailed by as much as 30 points in the fourth quarter as the game got well out of hand. The Spurs had control, only letting the Magic get within 12 points at one point in the third quarter.
That was about all the Magic could muster. They struggled to get much rhythm going offensively, forcing plays offensively and unable to get the ball moving to the open man consistently.
Orlando could not shoot the ball effectively — making just 39.5 percent of their shots and 4 for 18 from beyond the arc — and could not consistently get stops. There were good moments and good efforts. But they were often overshadowed by the bad.
A good defensive stop would not get finished with a rebound. San Antonio had 11 offensive rebounds and 27 second-chance points. Turnovers would lead to baskets — 17 turnovers total for 25 points.
The Spurs put their foot down and hammered the Magic’s lack of size, depth and cohesion.
Orlando Magic. JEFF GREEN. D. <strong><a rel=. F
Give Nikola Vucevic credit for trying. And for caring. His final moment in the game can when he checked out of the game and took some frustration out on a chair (not in a dangerous way).<p>Vucevic scored 16 points on 7-for-16 shooting and added 10 rebounds. He played with a lot of aggression, particularly early in the third quarter to help charge the Magic’s run to bring the deficit to within 12 points. Vucevic genuinely played a strong effort game.</p><p>It just was not enough. He could do his responsibility defensively and put up numbers offensively, but other players are not following his lead. Or he cannot bring other players with him. It was another frustrating and disappointing postgame for Vucevic who feels the pain of this season more and more.</p>. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC. B
C-. <strong><a rel=. G/F. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER
<strong><a rel=. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON. C
The San Antonio Spurs do what the San Antonio Spurs do. They picked apart the Orlando Magic with pinpoint passing and defensive pressure. They suffocated a weaker Magic team and never let them up.<p>Their offense did not need to be killer — 47.2 percent from the floor and 8 for 31 from beyond the arc — they were simply the better team. And they wanted it more. The Spurs were quicker to loose balls and offensive rebounds throughout the night. San Antonio jumped at every opportunity.</p>. 43-13. 2nd West. SAN ANTONIO SPURS. B+