Franz Wagner returns to the lineup as the Orlando Magic look to build in their second preseason game, battling the San Antonio Spurs.
Orlando Magic (0-1) at San Antonio Spurs (0-1)
Time/TV: 8 p.m./NBA League Pass
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Line via WynnBet: Magic by 3
Tickets: $2-$5,388 on StubHub
2022 Season Series: Spurs 123, Magic 97 in San Antonio on Oct. 20; Spurs 102, Magic 89 in Orlando on Nov. 5
2023 Season Series: Dec. 23 in Orlando; March 14 in San Antonio
| 2022 Season | Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 99.7 | 103.9 | 112.1 | 50.3 | 24.9 | 14.4 | 22.3 |
| San Antonio | 100.5 | 111.9 | 111.7 | 52.7 | 28.1 | 12.6 | 22.0 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic are going to watch this game eagerly for a number of reasons.
First, it is to see how much the team has grown and learned from the first preseason game. Correcting mistakes quickly is a major goal for the Magic in general and so seeing it in real time is critical.
Second, it will be the preseason debut for Franz Wagner as the team manages him a bit coming off a grueling schedule at EuroBasket on his way to a bronze medal. This will be the first time seeing Wendell Carter, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner together in a game setting. That is very exciting.
Throw in that this is a considerably weaker opponent than Monday’s debut and the Magic should be set up to make some more visible gains this time around.
3 Keys To Watch
Turnovers and mistakes
Why did the Orlando Magic get completely outclassed in Monday’s preseason debut against the Memphis Grizzlies? The answer is Ja Morant. He is good at basketball.
But the other reason was turnovers. The Magic let mistakes compound and combine to bury them in a deep hole that they struggled to climb out of at times.
The Magic committed 25 turnovers in Monday’s game. While that number was fewer than the Grizzlies’ miscues, the Grizzlies turned the Magic’s 25 turnovers into 33 points and a constant stream of fast breaks. And that is what they do to dominate games.
Transition defense and limiting mistakes have been key focuses in practice. The Magic were probably not too happy to see the team struggle in these areas even in a first preseason game. So this will be the focus and a key judge for the team moving forward.
Orlando needs to be more in sync and do a better job protecting the ball to give its offense a chance to get moving.
Franz returns
Franz Wagner’s absence was certainly felt in Monday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Orlando Magic are making sure to manage him and give him some rest and recovery days after helping Germany to the bronze medal at EuroBasket. There is no concern clearly about Wagner being ready for the start of the season.
But like everything else, there is plenty of catch-up going on. The Magic are trying to get everyone up to speed after missing a few days of camp due to Hurricane Ian. That lack of cohesion was evident Monday.
So getting Franz Wagner on the floor once again is key just for the experience of playing so he and Paolo Banchero can get used to playing together and get on the same page. There will be hiccups of course, but the more they play together the better right now.
Control the boards
One of the sneaky problems in Monday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies was how well the Orlando Magic defended the paint but still gave up a decent amount of offensive rebounds. The Magic struggled at times to spray out to the 3-point line after collapsing the paint and that left them in bad rebounding position too.
The Grizzlies had nine offensive rebounds they turned into 12 points. Fortunately for the Magic, the Grizzlies were just 3 for 9 on shots after offensive rebounds. That part is a good sign for the Magic. But also a bit of a warning.
Orlando has size and should be a good rebounding team. But they do not have a truly dominant rebounder. Wendell Carter can establish himself as such now that he is the full-time center but he will need Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to help on the glass.
Last year, San Antonio was one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league and Job Poeltl can be a lot to handle. This should be a good test for Orlando’s interio defense.