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0 In Thursday night’s game, the Orlando Magic faced off against the San Antonio Spurs, with Franz Wagner leading the charge for the Magic. Despite a strong performance from Spurs player Devin Vassell, who scored a remarkable 30 points in the second half, the Magic ultimately emerged victorious with a final score of 127-111.
Interestingly, Vassell had struggled to score in the first half, failing to make any significant impact on the game. However, he came back with a vengeance in the second half, hitting all nine of his shots in a stunning 23-point third quarter. This impressive display helped the Spurs to close the gap, bringing them to within 10 points of the Magic after trailing by 23 earlier in the game.
At halftime, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spoke to Vassell, urging him to play more aggressively. He said, “Dev, I don’t want to be too pushy or anything, but if you want to go ahead and score a little bit and play a little bit better, that’d be fine.” This pep talk seemed to have worked wonders, as Vassell’s performance in the second half was truly remarkable.
Despite Vassell’s efforts, however, the Magic were able to put the game away with an 8-0 run led by Jonathan Isaac early in the fourth quarter. Jalen Suggs added 17 points for the Magic, while Paolo Banchero had 16 points, five rebounds, and six assists.
On the Spurs side, rookie Victor Wembanyama played 23 minutes in the second game of a back-to-back, finishing with 15 points, one rebound, three blocks, and five turnovers. Popovich acknowledged that it was a new experience for the young player, saying, “He’ll get a certain period where he’ll run out of gas and then he gets it back again. Who doesn’t? It’s a new thing playing four games in a week.”
Vassell, for his part, praised Wembanyama’s potential but emphasized the need to support him as he learns the ropes of the NBA. “We’ve got to help him out, too. We can’t just throw him in the fire and expect him to win the game. … We have to make the game easier for him,” Vassell said.
Overall, the Magic were able to dominate the game thanks to their impressive shooting, making 16 of 27 three-pointers (59.3%). This was a significant improvement for the team, who came into the game with the NBA’s second-lowest percentage (34.4%) and the fewest 3s (10.73) per game. Only the Spurs had a poorer percentage (34.1%) from beyond the arc.
Wagner, who had seven rebounds and seven assists, was the star of the game, scoring an impressive 34 points. He hit a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer, then opened the second half with another three and a dunk to give the Magic their 23-point lead. After committing six turnovers in a loss at Miami, Wagner had just one in 28 minutes. He made 13 of 17 shots, including 3 of 4 threes.
Reflecting on his performance, Wagner said, “I think I’m doing a better job of getting close to the basket, but any time you try to do something different there’s going to be ups and downs. I’m obviously not immune to that so I’ve just got to keep working at it. But the most important thing is making the right play for the team. I’m not going to get caught up too much in the other stuff.”
Overall, the Magic had an impressive night, shooting 59.8% overall, with a 39-27 rebounding advantage and 34 assists on 49 field goals. It was a well-deserved victory for the team, who played with skill and determination throughout the game.
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