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In a thrilling matchup on Saturday night, the Orlando Magic narrowly defeated the San Antonio Spurs with a final score of 112-111. Paolo Banchero’s 15-foot jumper put the Magic ahead with just 24.7 seconds remaining in a game where they spent a significant amount of time in a trailing position. Victor Wembanyama had a chance to clinch the game for the Spurs but missed a crucial mid-range shot in the closing moments.
Franz Wagner delivered an outstanding performance for the Magic, scoring 33 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Anthony Black provided a valuable contribution off the bench with 20 points, shooting an impressive 8-of-9 from the field. Banchero rounded out the Magic’s key players with 17 points, alongside seven rebounds and six assists.
On the Spurs’ side, Devin Vassell was the standout performer, pouring in 25 points while shooting 11-of-14. Harrison Barnes also had a significant impact, recording 21 points and eight rebounds, complemented by an electrifying five 3-pointers in just over two minutes during the first quarter. Wembanyama added 18 points, nine rebounds, four steals, and four blocks to his night’s tally. De’Aaron Fox contributed with nine points and nine assists in his third game with San Antonio.
From the Spurs’ perspective, this game was part of a challenging road trip, as they had previously struggled to secure wins, only managing ten road victories last season. After enduring back-to-back one-point losses against Charlotte and Orlando, their opportunity for their fourth win on this trip now hinges on their upcoming game against Washington on Monday.
For the Magic, the absence of Jalen Suggs continued to be felt, as he missed his fifth consecutive game due to a left quadriceps contusion. With Suggs sidelined, the team has struggled significantly, winning only five out of their last 17 games, but they remain hopeful about his return before the All-Star break next week.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Wagner scored eight points and provided an assist, which helped the Magic recover from a daunting 13-point deficit midway through the second half.
Statistically, Anthony Black shone with a perfect three-point shooting performance, connecting on all three of his attempts. Despite sitting at 24th in the league for field-goal percentage, the Magic had a solid shooting night, finishing with an overall percentage of 51.1%.
Looking ahead, the Spurs will face the Washington Wizards on the road Monday night, while the Magic prepare to host the Atlanta Hawks in their next game.
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