The complete Spurs bench erupted in celebration.
San Antonio wing Devin Vassell had simply buried a operating 3-point shot to place his group forward of the Magic 108-102 with 3:55 remaining in Saturday evening’s contest at Kia Middle.
The few Spurs followers contained in the constructing might be heard cheering and Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley had no alternative however to name a timeout.
What Vassell, the Spurs and their followers didn’t know was what would come subsequent — a key lineup change made by Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, a 10-3 run by Orlando and a game-winning basket by Magic star Paolo Banchero.
“That 5 [-player lineup] that we had in there turned us up,” guard Cole Anthony stated within the locker room after the 112-111 victory towards San Antonio.
Anthony was referring to Banchero, Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jonathan Isaac — the lineup Mosley used to shut out the ultimate 4 minutes following his second-to-last timeout.
Though a small pattern dimension, that 5-man lineup produced the group’s highest web score (plus-73.6) amongst its 9 used towards the Spurs. In simply 4 minutes, the closing lineup posted an 111.1 offensive score, however extra impressively a 37.5 defensive score.
“They did their factor,” Anthony stated of Orlando’s closing lineup. “They held them in that fourth quarter and I had a fantastic front-row seat.”
Whereas Anthony had a front-row seat, a shock visitor had a second-row seat.
Again within the public eye of Kia Middle for the primary time since he had surgical procedure one month in the past to restore a torn ACL in his left knee, Moe Wagner was sitting straight behind the Magic bench with Orlando’s teaching employees.
“Moe was enormous,” Banchero stated. “Having him behind there appearing as a coach, his voice was serving to us so much. Simply him being there’s a great point as a result of he brings the infectious power.”
Though it was Banchero who hit the go-ahead jump-shot with 25.1 seconds left within the contest, it was Franz Wagner who saved the Magic inside hanging distance of the Spurs with 33 factors on 50% capturing alongside 12 rebounds and 5 assists.
He grew to become the fifth participant in franchise historical past to have a number of video games with 30-plus factors, 10-plus rebounds and 5-plus assists in the identical season, becoming a member of Tracy McGrady, Shaquille O’Neal, Nikola Vucevic and Steve Francis, the group stated.
Together with his older brother Moe watching from the sideline as he continues to rehab, Franz didn’t take the second with no consideration.
“For me, it was actually cool,” he stated. “He’s a extremely sensible participant. [He’s] giving guys pointers within the sport, and you’re feeling that somebody’s lacking when somebody that’s been right here so lengthy shouldn’t be on the journeys and on the video games like that.”
Although Moe Wagner’s season ended early, his presence alone might be felt by Franz and the remainder of the Magic as they battled the Spurs in a sport that featured 14 lead adjustments.
Nonetheless, Orlando solely improved to 8-16 within the time since Moe suffered his season-ending knee harm Dec. 21 towards Miami. And the Magic had been nonetheless with out All-Defensive guard Jalen Suggs (left quad contusion) for the seventh consecutive contest.
However having Moe’s power again behind the bench — together with the excessive feelings that include a clutch shot akin to Banchero’s towards San Antonio (22-28) — might be simply what the physician ordered for an Orlando squad that went 3-12 in its final 15 video games previous to Saturday.
The Magic (26-28) host Atlanta on Monday of their second-to-last sport earlier than the league’s All-Star break. Orlando sat eighth within the East — one sport behind No. 7 Miami (25-25) and half-a-game in entrance of the No. 9 Hawks (25-28) — coming into Sunday’s slate.
“It is a large one,” Anthony stated of the 1-point win. “For us, we wish to attempt to win each sport we are able to and so this was step in the appropriate route towards this good Spurs group that’s very gifted.”
Banchero didn’t even contemplate an alternate ending.
“Essential,” he stated of the victory. “If we’d have misplaced this sport, who is aware of? So, [it’s] good that we received.”
Jason Beede could be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up subsequent …
Magic vs. Hawks
When: 7, Monday, Kia Middle
TV: FanDuel Sports activities Community Florida
