Spurs Outlast Magic in Storm-Delayed Matchup, Wembanyama Shines Again
SAN ANTONIO - After a weekend of travel chaos caused by a brutal winter storm sweeping across the U.S., the Magic and Spurs finally tipped off Sunday night at Frost Bank Center - five hours later than planned and under far-from-ideal circumstances. But once the ball was in the air, it was San Antonio that looked locked in from the jump, not the team that had just flown in on game day.
Despite playing the second night of a back-to-back, the Spurs came out with more energy, more precision, and ultimately more points, pulling away in the second half behind Victor Wembanyama’s 25-point effort to secure a 112-103 win over Orlando.
It was a game that saw six ties and six lead changes, but make no mistake - San Antonio controlled the tempo for most of the night. The Spurs led by double digits for long stretches, and when the Magic did make a run, San Antonio had an answer.
Wemby Leads the Way, Spurs Share the Load
Wembanyama continues to look more comfortable with each passing game, and this one was no different. He scored 25, went 11-of-15 from the line, and was a constant presence on both ends. But it wasn’t a solo act - San Antonio had six players score in double figures, a testament to the kind of balanced attack that’s been fueling their strong stretch of play.
Even with Orlando forcing 17 turnovers and converting them into 23 points, the Spurs returned the favor, turning 15 Magic giveaways into 17 points of their own. The difference?
San Antonio’s ability to sustain their scoring across quarters. They outscored Orlando 89-63 in the first, third, and fourth quarters combined, which ultimately proved too much for the visitors to overcome.
Magic Bench Shows Up, But Free Throw Disparity Hurts
Orlando got a solid lift from its bench, which poured in 41 points. Desmond Bane led the team with 25, Paolo Banchero added 19, and the second unit helped fuel a massive second-quarter surge.
After a sluggish start, the Magic opened the second frame on a 17-3 run and outscored San Antonio 40-23 in the quarter. They shot 60% from the field in that stretch and took a 61-60 lead into halftime.
But the energy didn’t carry over into the second half.
One glaring issue? Free throws.
The Magic, who lead the league in free throw attempts per game, didn’t get to the line once in the first quarter and finished the night with just 15 attempts total - making 13. San Antonio, on the other hand, went 23-of-32 from the stripe, with Wembanyama alone matching Orlando’s team total in attempts.
That kind of discrepancy is hard to overcome, especially on the road.
Rookie Watch: Bright Spot in Penda
There was a silver lining for Orlando in the form of rookie forward Noah Penda. The second-round pick brought a noticeable spark off the bench, especially during that strong second quarter. He finished with seven points, two boards, and a pair of assists in just 13 minutes of action - a small sample, but an encouraging one.
First-rounder Jase Richardson didn’t check in until the final minutes, once the game was essentially decided.
What’s Next
The loss drops the Magic to 25-23 as they head to Oklahoma City for their only visit there this season. It’s a quick turnaround, and they’ll need to regroup quickly to avoid a slide in the standings.
As for the Spurs, they continue to build momentum. Now 33-16, they’re finding ways to win even when the schedule - and the weather - throws them a curveball. And with Wembanyama continuing to evolve into the kind of player who can tilt a game in multiple ways, San Antonio is starting to look like a team that’s not just surviving adversity - they’re thriving in it.