Orlando Magic Grades: San Antonio Spurs 129, Orlando Magic 90
The Orlando Magic struggled to get anything going and got run out of their own building as the San Antonio Spurs dismantled them.
38. Final. 129. 29. 90
Marco Belinelli was weaving his way through the Orlando Magic defense trying to find a mini hole. The Magic were holding steady, trying to keep him from getting off that quick release and stay on balance. He dribbled in and then out keeping an eye on the shot clock.
Then daylight. A quick shot with an arm in his face.
Did not matter. The ball fell through the hoop as it would for the San Antonio Spurs so many times from beyond the arc.
That kind of shot was a killer. It deflates morale on one of the rare possession the Magic played good defense.
The real killer were the times LaMarcus Aldridge came crashing down the lane and bowled through Mohamed Bamba or Jonathan Isaac or Khem Birch for a lay in. Contested as it might be, to no avail.
The real killer were the times the Spurs got the defense to collapse or ran a pick and roll and saw a big dropping without much chance to corral the ball handler and allow the defense to recover. Those always seemed to end in open threes or easy baskets as the Magic tried desperately to scramble and recover.
This was a masterclass as the Spurs blew out the Magic 129-90 at the Amway Center on Wednesday. Orlando simply could not keep up or do much of anything, falling into every offensive and defensive trap the Spurs laid.
For the game, San Antonio shot 64.9 percent and 12 for 19 from beyond the arc. They had 29 assists on 50 field goal makes, blowing past the Magic with little resistance.
Orlando could not find much answer on offense. The Magic finished shooting 38.2 percent from the floor. Orlando made 12 of 31 3-point attempts (38.7 percent), but that was never going to be enough on this night.
Not with the defense in shambles. Much of that offensive production came with the game already decided and the margin too big to erase.
The Spurs simply did whatever they wanted and the Magic were left simply to lick their wounds.
Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON. C+. With <a href=. F
C. <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. MOHAMED BAMBA
G/F. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER. C. At least at the beginning of the game, <a href=
B-. <a href=. PG. Orlando Magic. D.J. AUGUSTIN
A+. The San Antonio Spurs put on a complete performance from start to finish. Even if the Orlando Magic had not played such a poor game, the San Antonio Spurs likely still would have won. That is how deadly efficient they were. They baited the Magic on both ends of the floor to do exactly what they wanted, they were in complete control.<p>Outside the team’s unreal shooting percentages, the Spurs also had 26 fast-break points, including 21 in the first half alone. This is the team with the fewest fast break points in the league. They caught a Magic team napping and just took them to town.</p><p>It did not stop. And the Spurs hit tough shots to boot. But even without those, San Antonio’s offense just broke down Orlando’s defense with precision. It was not a close game at all. Kudos to San Antonio.</p>. 17-15. 9th West. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Orlando Magic must defend their home floor next. dark. Next
The Orlando Magic will have to regroup quickly. They had to Chicago to take on the Chicago Bulls on Friday in their next game.