Magic Edge Spurs in Thrilling 112-111 Victory

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic secured a narrow 112-111 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night, thanks to a clutch 15-foot jumper from Paolo Banchero with just 24.7 seconds remaining. The Magic, who trailed for most of the game, managed to hold off a late challenge from the Spurs after Victor Wembanyama missed a critical mid-range shot in the final moments.

Franz Wagner led the Magic with an impressive performance, scoring 33 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Anthony Black made a significant impact off the bench, contributing 20 points on an efficient 8-of-9 shooting. Banchero rounded out the scoring for Orlando with 17 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

On the Spurs’ side, Devin Vassell shone with 25 points, shooting 11-for-14 from the floor. Harrison Barnes added 21 points and eight rebounds, while Wembanyama finished the game with 18 points, nine rebounds, four steals, and four blocks. Barnes notably sank five 3-pointers within a span of just over two minutes during the first quarter, setting the tone for San Antonio early on.

De'Aaron Fox, in his third game with the Spurs, contributed nine points and nine assists. The loss came as San Antonio was looking to improve their struggles away from home, having won only 10 road games throughout the previous season and only six in the first half of this season. The Spurs are on a challenging road trip that concludes with a game in Washington on Monday, and have faced back-to-back one-point defeats against Charlotte and Orlando.

The Magic faced their own difficulties, playing without Jalen Suggs for the fifth consecutive game due to a left quadriceps contusion. Suggs has missed 16 of the last 17 games, of which the Magic could only secure five wins. The team is hopeful that Suggs can return in time for the upcoming All-Star break.

Wagner, after a sluggish start, tallied eight points and an assist to spark a comeback, quickly cutting a 13-point deficit midway through the second half. Black hit all three of his 3-point attempts, aiding the Magic, who currently rank 24th in field-goal percentage, to an overall shooting percentage of 51.1% for the night. Orlando will next face the Atlanta Hawks at home on Monday.