Fourth-quarter surge lifts Magic past Spurs

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on Apr 1, 2025

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Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has talked repeatedly about his team wanting to play its best basketball in the months of March and April.

Orlando failed to do that Monday night when it fell to the visiting Clippers at Kia Center but was able to bounce back against the Spurs at Frost Bank Center less than 24 hours later.

On the second night of a back-to-back after traveling to a different time zone at San Antonio, the Magic turned defense into offense when Paolo Banchero (24 points), Franz Wagner (24) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (23) combined for 71 in the 116-105 road win.

After trailing by five points entering the fourth quarter, Orlando outscored San Antonio 37-21 in the final 12 minutes.

Without reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama (who was ruled out for the season in February due to a blood clot in his right shoulder), the Spurs still had six scorers finish in double figures in a game they led by as many as 11 points.

A defensive-minded group, Orlando allowed 61 points in the first half but limited the Spurs (31-44) to 44 after the break.

With only five games remaining in the regular season, the Magic (37-40) head to the Wizards on Thursday.

What went right

Just enough.

Franz Wagner posted a 15-point second quarter as he made a trio of triples in the frame. He later powered a fourth-quarter run by attacking the basket best he could.

Although Banchero had a quiet start with just seven points in the first half, the Magic forward posted 21 the rest of the way.

He and Wagner have now each scored 20-plus points in nine straight games, setting the longest streak by a duo in franchise history.

Key, however, was the fact that they had help.

After making all three of his long-range attempts against the Clippers, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope followed up shooting 7 of 9 from distance as he came up huge for Orlando down the stretch.

His sixth triple of the night put the Magic ahead by 11 points with three minutes remaining in the contest and his seventh came less than a minute later.

Orlando scored 20 points off 17 San Antonio turnovers, which helped lead to a 19-6 run in the fourth quarter that gave the Magic the lead for good.

Reserve guard Cole Anthony was able to return to the court Tuesday after he missed six straight games. In 19 minutes, he notched nine points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

What went wrong

Although the Magic came out firing, hitting 12 3-pointers in the first half (five more than the entire night against the Clippers), Orlando actually played right into San Antonio’s hand.

The Spurs dared the Magic to shoot from distance, often leaving shooters on the perimeter open. Generally a strength to its offense, Orlando scored no points in the paint in the first quarter and only 10 in the second frame.

No one can blame San Antonio allowing Orlando to attempt almost 50 3-pointers (47). The Magic entered the contest with the lowest 3-point percentage in the league (31.2%).

Orlando shot above their average (38.3%), but it fluctuated throughout the contest.

With the Spurs packing the paint and limiting Orlando’s tries around the rim, the Magic attempted only 12 free throws compared to their season average of 23.4, which is second-most in the league. Fortunately for them, they made all 12 attempts.

It didn’t help when the Spurs opened the third frame on a 10-2 run in a quarter that’s cost Orlando throughout much of the season.

Tied at 61 at halftime, the Magic trailed San Antonio by five points entering the fourth quarter.

Second-chance scoring

Of course, 29 misses from distance can lead to a ton of opportunities for offensive rebounds.

Orlando took advantage of those extra possessions against the Spurs and racked up 21 second-chance points.

Although the Magic grabbed only one more offensive rebound than the Spurs (10-9), San Antonio scored only four second-chance points.

Rookie watch

After playing three minutes against the Clippers, No. 18 pick Tristan da Silva did not see the floor against the Spurs, recording his fifth DNP-CD of the season.

Spurs rookie Stephon Castle, the No. 4 pick, posted 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes.