Paolo Banchero’s 27 factors not sufficient as Spurs’ scorching 3-point taking pictures downs Magic – The Mercury Information

For the Orlando Magic, matchups in opposition to groups beneath them within the standings aren’t presupposed to really feel like uphill battles from the beginning.

However that’s precisely what Tuesday’s 132-114 street loss was in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs (18-50).

And every time it appeared the Magic (28-41) have been going to climb over the hill, the Spurs buried certainly one of their franchise-best 22 3-pointers to forestall Orlando from tying the sport or take the lead.

The Magic’s lack of physicality defensively allowed the Spurs to get snug and in a taking pictures rhythm from past the arc early.

San Antonio made 6 of 9 3s within the first quarter and 10 of 18 photographs from past the arc within the first half to take a 67-61 lead.

After trailing by 17 halfway by means of the third, the Magic saved chipping away, reducing the deficit to 6-9 factors a number of occasions. They trailed 112-106 after Cole Anthony (14 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists off the bench) made a pull-up jumper with 6:28 remaining.

However the Spurs, led by rookie ahead Jeremy Sochan (29 factors, 11 rebounds) continued to share the ball and pile on the 3s, operating away with the sport late. San Antonio had 39 assists on 48 made baskets.

“It’s positively a tricky loss,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned. “You actually do must tip your hat to San Antonio. They performed their tails off. They introduced it to us. This one stings. It hurts as a result of it’s one we let get away from us.”

Paolo Banchero scored a team-high 27 factors on 11-of-21 taking pictures to go together with 6 rebounds. Seven Magic gamers scored in double figures, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to beat Orlando always permitting dribble penetration into the paint that led to 3s.

Second-year ahead Franz Wagner (11 factors and 4 assists in 28 minutes) began regardless of spraining his proper ankle in Saturday’s dwelling win over the Miami Warmth.

Warmth guard Kyle Lowry fell on Wagner’s ankle as each have been operating up the ground after a Miami missed basket with round 9 minutes remaining within the recreation. Play continued for about 20 seconds, with Wagner hobbling on the ankle till Mosley was capable of name a timeout.

The Magic mentioned X-rays on Wagner’s ankle have been detrimental, that means no harm was proven, earlier than including the analysis was a sprain.

His standing coming into Saturday was questionable earlier than being upgraded to accessible 1 1/2 hours forward of tipoff.

“Clearly, him not being at 100%, his willingness to battle and push by means of,” Mosley mentioned of what he noticed from Wagner. “It says a lot about his aggressive spirit, nature and willingness to seek out any means he can to impression profitable. That’s the way in which he conducts himself.”

Wagner’s missed simply three video games due to harm since being the No. 8 choose within the 2021 draft, all of which got here on the finish of final season due to a sprained proper ankle.

The lone recreation he sat for this season was due to the suspensions given to a number of gamers after a Dec. 28 altercation between the Magic and Pistons in Detroit.

Wagner sprained his left ankle and had an early exit in a win over the Charlotte Hornets earlier within the month however was accessible for the following recreation.

Tuesday kicked off a four-game journey, with matchups in opposition to the Phoenix Suns (Thursday), Los Angeles Clippers (Saturday) and Los Angeles Lakers (Sunday) forward.

This text first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. E-mail Khobi Value at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.

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