Game ID: 22300734
San Antonio Spurs @ Orlando Magic
Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
ORL 23 38 37 29 127SAS 20 24 41 26 111
ORL vs SAS ScoutingORL vs SAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
ORL availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Gar. Harris missed 13 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK F. Wagner back 1/21 after 8, 31 min since (93% of 33)
NEW Fultz 20 to 26 min over the last 3
ORL availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Gar. Harris missed 14 since 1/05, returns tonight: 18 min (74% of 24)
OUT Houstan missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Queen missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
NEW Fultz 20 to 26 min over the last 3
ORL availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Bitadze missed 2 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Houstan missed 3 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Queen missed 3 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Gar. Harris back 2/02 after 14, 18 min since (74% of 24)
NEW Fultz 20 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Black 16 to 22 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restOUT Bitadze missed 3 since 1/31, returns tonight: 3 min (21% of 15)
OUT Houstan missed 4 since 1/29, returns tonight: 3 min (23% of 13)
OUT Queen missed 4 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Gar. Harris back 2/02 after 14, 21 min since (86% of 24)
NEW Fultz 20 to 26 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT Queen missed 5 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Gar. Harris back 2/02 after 14, 20 min since (84% of 24)
BACK Bitadze back 2/06 after 3, 3 min since (21% of 15)
BACK Houstan back 2/06 after 4, 3 min since (23% of 13)
NEW Fultz 20 to 26 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Queen missed 6 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Gar. Harris back 2/02 after 14, 20 min since (83% of 24)
BACK Bitadze back 2/06 after 3, 3 min since (20% of 15)
BACK Houstan back 2/06 after 4, 3 min since (22% of 13)
NEW Fultz 20 to 26 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 2/13 · 2 days' restOUT Queen missed 7 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Gar. Harris back 2/02 after 14, 21 min since (85% of 24)
BACK Bitadze back 2/06 after 3, 7 min since (45% of 15)
BACK Houstan back 2/06 after 4, 3 min since (22% of 13)
ORL availability going into 2/14 · back-to-backOUT Queen missed 8 since 1/29, returns tonight: 8 min (66% of 12)
BACK Bitadze back 2/06 after 3, 6 min since (38% of 15)
BACK Houstan back 2/06 after 4, 3 min since (21% of 13)
ORL availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restBACK Bitadze back 2/06 after 3, 5 min since (36% of 15)
BACK Houstan back 2/06 after 4, 8 min since (63% of 13)
BACK Queen back 2/14 after 8, 8 min since (66% of 12)
SAS availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 2 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Branham missed 3 since 1/26, returns tonight: 15 min (72% of 21)
OUT Graham missed 3 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 15 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Barlow back 1/27 after 4, 16 min since (128% of 13)
NEW Wesley 14 to 20 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 3 since 1/27, returns tonight: 20 min (89% of 22)
OUT Graham missed 4 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 16 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 15 min since (72% of 21)
BACK Barlow back 1/27 after 4, 17 min since (133% of 13)
SAS availability going into 2/03 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 2 since 1/31, returns tonight: 22 min (75% of 30)
OUT Graham missed 5 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 17 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 20 min since (89% of 22)
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 16 min since (73% of 21)
BACK Barlow back 1/27 after 4, 17 min since (133% of 13)
SAS availability going into 2/07 · 3 days' restOUT Graham missed 6 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 2 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 18 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 22 min since (75% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 20 min since (90% of 22)
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 14 min since (64% of 21)
SAS availability going into 2/08 · back-to-backOUT Graham missed 7 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 3 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 19 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 23 min since (79% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 19 min since (85% of 22)
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 12 min since (58% of 21)
NEW Osman 18 to 23 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 8 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 4 since 2/02, returns tonight: 12 min (94% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 20 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 24 min since (80% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 21 min since (93% of 22)
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 14 min since (65% of 21)
SAS availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 9 since 1/26, returns tonight: 6 min (46% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 21 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 25 min since (85% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 18 min since (80% of 22)
BACK Barlow back 2/10 after 4, 12 min since (94% of 13)
SAS availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Cissoko missed 22 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Graham back 2/12 after 9, 6 min since (46% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 2/10 after 4, 12 min since (94% of 13)
SAS availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Barlow missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 23 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Graham back 2/12 after 9, 6 min since (43% of 14)
NEW Wesley 14 to 21 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Banchero at 25 and F. Wagner at 22 a game. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vassell at 24 and Wembanyama at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, Orlando at 38 percent from three to San Antonio's 31. Call it Orlando 116, San Antonio 108.
1/31 @ SAS 108-98 — ORL notes
ORL won 108-98. ORL shot 48% (41 of 86) to SAS's 45%, 7 of 20 from three. Banchero led with 25 (9 of 18, 2 of 4 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); F. Wagner added 20, Carter Jr. 14. The hinge was Q3, 34-21: a lead of 6 became 19, and the lead reached 25. Banchero was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
2/02 @ MIN 108-106 — ORL notes
ORL won 108-106. ORL shot 46% (39 of 85) to MIN's 46%, 9 of 25 from three, and went to the line 26 times to MIN's 20 — 21 points from the stripe to their 18. Banchero led with 23 (10 of 20); F. Wagner added 19, Carter Jr. 18. The hinge was Q4, 28-18: ORL came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 2. ORL trailed 54-59 at the half and won the second half 54-47. F. Wagner was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
2/04 @ DET 111-99 — ORL notes
ORL won 111-99. ORL shot 54% (45 of 84) to DET's 45%, 10 of 24 from three, and got to the line 15 times to DET's 22. ORL turned it over 10 times to DET's 15. F. Wagner led with 38 (17 of 25, 4 of 7 from three); Banchero added 20, Harris 10. The hinge was Q4, 33-24: a lead of 3 became 12. F. Wagner was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
2/06 @ MIA 95-121 — ORL notes
ORL lost 95-121. ORL shot 44% (35 of 80) to MIA's 54%, 10 of 35 from three. ORL turned it over 18 times to MIA's 13, and MIA turned those into 10 steals. Banchero led with 23 (7 of 16, 1 of 4 from three, 8 of 12 at the line); Carter Jr. added 15, F. Wagner 13. Q2 was theirs, 30-30, but the other 3 periods went 91-65 against them. Banchero's -23 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/08 vs SAS 127-111 — ORL notes
ORL won 127-111. ORL shot 60% (49 of 82) to SAS's 52%, 16 of 27 from three. The glass went 39-27 for them. F. Wagner led with 34 (13 of 17, 3 of 4 from three); Suggs added 17, Banchero 16. The hinge was Q2, 38-24: a lead of 3 became 17, and the lead reached 23. Fultz was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/10 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 25 and Banchero at 21 a game. One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and White at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Williams (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 107 a night to Chicago's 117. Call it Orlando 114, Chicago 110, Chicago keeping it close.
2/13 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 28 and Banchero at 20 a game. 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 29 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 109 a night to OKC's 123 and the glass, where Orlando has been plus-3 a night and OKC minus-6. Call it Orlando 116, OKC 115, OKC keeping it close.
2/14 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 27 and Banchero at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and DiVincenzo at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Randle (8 straight), Anunoby (8 straight), Hartenstein (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Orlando giving it away 15 times a game to New York's 11 and the line, where Orlando takes 21 free throws a game to New York's 16. Call it Orlando 113, New York 112, New York keeping it close.
2/22 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Eva. Mobley at 16 a game. Without Wade (2 straight). 7 days' rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 24 and Banchero at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 7 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 105 a night to Orlando's 113 and the turnovers, Orlando giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 11. Call it Cleveland 115, Orlando 109.
1/31 vs ORL 98-108 — SAS notes
SAS lost 98-108. SAS shot 45% (36 of 80) to ORL's 48%, 9 of 31 from three. Vassell led with 26 (8 of 18, 3 of 8 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Wembanyama added 21, Sochan 18. Q4 was theirs, 26-17, the deficit cut from 19 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 91-72 against them. They led by as many as 11. Vassell's -16 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/02 vs NOP 113-114 — SAS notes
SAS lost 113-114. SAS shot 48% (46 of 96) to NOP's 48%, 10 of 39 from three. SAS turned it over 18 times to NOP's 9, and NOP turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 55-39 for them. Vassell led with 28 (11 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Jones added 20, Wembanyama 16. Q1 was theirs, 33-24, but the other 3 periods went 90-80 against them. They led by as many as 12.
2/03 vs CLE 101-117 — SAS notes
SAS lost 101-117. SAS shot 37% (36 of 98) to CLE's 47%, 12 of 40 from three, and went to the line 21 times to CLE's 13 — 17 points from the stripe to their 12. Vassell led with 22 (7 of 16, 3 of 8 from three); Wembanyama added 19, Johnson 17. Q4 was theirs, 30-25, the deficit cut from 21 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 92-71 against them. Collins's -28 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/07 @ MIA 104-116 — SAS notes
SAS lost 104-116. SAS shot 46% (41 of 90) to MIA's 49%, 12 of 37 from three, and got to the line 17 times to MIA's 23. Vassell led with 19 (8 of 18, 1 of 6 from three); Jones added 19, Wembanyama 18. Q3 was theirs, 26-25, the deficit cut from 2 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 91-78 against them. Jones's -15 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/08 @ ORL 111-127 — SAS notes
SAS lost 111-127. SAS shot 52% (42 of 81) to ORL's 60%, 11 of 35 from three. The glass went 27-39 against them. Vassell led with 30 (11 of 18, 3 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Wembanyama added 15, Collins 12. Q3 was theirs, 41-37, the deficit cut from 17 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 90-70 against them. Sochan's -26 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/10 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Thomas at 23 and Bridges at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Finney-Smith (6 straight), Cam. Johnson (2 straight), Walker IV (2 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vassell at 25 and Wembanyama at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-1 a night and Brooklyn minus-9 and the arc, Brooklyn at 37 percent from three to San Antonio's 30. Call it Brooklyn 117, San Antonio 112.
2/12 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Barrett at 20 and Barnes at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Freeman-Liberty (8 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vassell at 23 and Wembanyama at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 37 percent from three to San Antonio's 30 and the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-2 a night and Toronto minus-4. Call it Toronto 117, San Antonio 114, San Antonio keeping it close.
2/14 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Irving at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Lively II (7 straight), Exum (9 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Vassell at 23 and Wembanyama at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 106 a night to San Antonio's 116 and the arc, Dallas at 39 percent from three to San Antonio's 32. Call it Dallas 121, San Antonio 110, Dallas by 11.
2/22 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sabonis at 25 and Fox at 22 a game. 7 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Vassell at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 7 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-2 a night and San Antonio minus-5 and the arc, Sacramento at 36 percent from three to San Antonio's 31. Call it Sacramento 120, San Antonio 112.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASBW B. Wesley
CO C. Osman
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
ORLAB A. Black
CA C. Anthony
CH C. Houstan
CO C. Okeke
FW F. Wagner
GH G. Harris
JI J. Ingles
JI J. Isaac
JS J. Suggs
MF M. Fultz
MW M. Wagner
PB P. Banchero
WC W. Carter Jr.
SAS/ORL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Franz Wagner leads Magic past Spurs, who get 30-point second half from Devin Vassell
ORLANDO, Fla. -- — Franz Wagner scored 34 points and the Orlando Magic weathered a 30-point second half by San Antonio's Devin Vassell to beat the Spurs 127-111 on Thursday night.
After going scoreless in the first half, Vassell hit all nine of his shots in a 23-point third quarter, helping the Spurs get within 10 points after trailing by 23.
Coach Gregg Popovich spoke to Vassell at halftime and urged him to play more aggressively.
“I 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,’” Popovich said.
The Magic put the game away with an 8-0 run led by Jonathan Isaac early in the fourth.
Jalen Suggs added 17 points for the Magic, and Paolo Banchero had 16 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Rookie Victor Wembanyama , playing 23 minutes in the second game of a back-to-back, finished with 15 points, one rebound, three blocks and five turnovers for the Spurs, who lost their sixth straight.
“It's a new experience for him,” Popovich said. “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 said he tried to make things easier for the 7-foot-4 rookie.
“Everybody has these high expectations for him and he makes these crazy plays and does crazy stuff every game, but he just turned 20. He's learning,” Vassell said. “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.”
The Magic made 16 of 27 3-pointers (59.3%) after coming 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, hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer, then opened the second half with another 3 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.
“I thought I'd try not to throw it away as much,” he said.
He made 13 of 17 shots, including 3 of 4 threes.
“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,” Wagner said. “I’m obviously not immune to that so I’ve just got to keep 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.”
Orlando shot 59.8% overall, had a 39-27 rebounding advantage and had 34 assists on 49 field goals.