What If? Series: 1995 Orlando Magic vs. San Antonio Spurs

The Matchup — Over the hump

Because of their athleticism and versatility, Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson were two of the must-see players in the league. Their matchups were appointment television. And they were very much part of the NBA’s future vision for Finals to come.

O’Neal did not have to invent a reason to be angry at Robinson. The competition should have done it for him.

It was not just the 1994 scoring race and 1995 MVP race that O’Neal lost to Robinson that should have served as motivation. It was that the Spurs had the Magic’s number time and time again throughout the early history of the team.

From the 1992-95 season, the Magic went 2-6 against the Spurs. In fact, the Magic won just four of their first 14 matchups with the Spurs in franchise history. Orlando has an overall record of just 19-44, including only six wins in San Antonio, in franchise history.

That might be a testament more to the Spurs’ overall franchise success than anything else.

But the Magic had continual problems with the Spurs. Especially in those early days.

It should be noted that one of those three wins the Magic had in the O’Neal era against the Spurs (the Magic split the season series in 1996 with an overtime win in Orlando) came in the 1995 season. This was a real battle and both happened in short order in March when the teams were established as the top teams in their conference.

In the first matchup, the Magic rallied from a 12-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to make things a game. They outscored the Spurs 28-15 in the final quarter but lost 112-111.

Shaquille O’Neal scored 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Anfernee Hardaway scored 28 points to go with six rebounds and seven assists. Nick Anderson scored 20.

David Robinson scored 24 points on 7-for-24 shooting. But he led the charge to the foul line with 10 makes in 12 tries. San Antonio took 40 free throws as a team. Dennis Rodman controlled the glass with 20 rebounds and Sean Elliott added 18 points.

San Antonio was not able to squeak by as easily in the second meeting in Orlando.

Just nine days later on the NBA on NBC’s game of the week, the Magic edged out the Spurs 110-104.

In the back-and-forth affair, the two big men again went toe to toe. O’Neal scored 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Robinson went for 34 points and 12 rebounds.

But Hardaway was the difference with 31 points and six assists. His lay-in off a baseline cut with 1:30 to play gave the Magic a five-point lead and they put the game away at the foul line.

These were two evenly matched teams. And little things like fouls and the one-on-one battle between O’Neal and Robinson was often the difference in the game.