The San Antonio Spurs nearly orchestrated an impressive comeback Wednesday night, but their efforts fell short as the Orlando Magic took the win with a final score of 108-98. Despite trailing by as much as 25 points in the latter half, the Spurs managed to whittle the deficit down to a mere three-point gap before turnovers ultimately hampered their rally, according to ESPN.
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 26 points, while French phenom Victor Wembanyama added 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 blocks. The Spurs' comeback bid was sparked by a significant run in the fourth quarter, where they seemed poised to completely overturn the Magic's comfortable lead. The team struggled to maintain possession, however, turning it over three times in the crucial final minutes to finally seal the Magic's victory. This narrow escape came hot on the heels of Orlando's recent defeat to Dallas, where they missed a three-pointer at the buzzer that could've won the game after leading by 16 in the third quarter, as reported by KENS 5.
For Orlando, Paolo Banchero was the night's top scorer with 25 points, while Franz Wagner put up a solid 20 points to help cement the team's victory. "It’s all about growth for this group," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley told ESPN. "We continue to have to go through these experiences to help us understand that it’s a 48-minute game."
On the Spurs side, Jeremy Sochan provided a burst of energy early on, clocking in at 18 points and 12 rebounds by the end of the night, but also incurred several fouls that cost the team. Coach Gregg Popovich noted Sochan's speed, "He goes too fast sometimes, and we’ve just got to get him to slow down," he told ESPN. The team's bench struggled without mainstays Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins, both sidelined due to injuries. This loss marks another blow to the Spurs, bringing their record to a challenging 10-38 as they gear to quickly turn around and host the Pelicans on Friday.
Turnovers remained a sore spot for San Antonio, with the team giving up the ball 17 times throughout the game, allowing Orlando to maintain a 20-point lead across the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth. Wembanyama acknowledged the impact of the deficit, saying to KENS 5, "Not necessarily, but it definitely doesn’t help us." As the Spurs contemplate their next moves, the team stands at the precipice of their annual three-week road trip due to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo event at the Frost Bank Center.
