Spurs-Magic Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Nov 27 2012 6:41PM

The young Orlando Magic acknowledge they still have much to learn. They also know they could get an important lesson from their next game.

The Magic will attempt to bounce back from the first loss on their season-high homestand Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs, who will seek a season-high fifth straight win and eighth in a row on the road.

With a new coach, three returning contributors and four rookies, Orlando knows it might take a little while for things to jell. The Magic (5-8) showed some progress with back-to-back wins to open their five-game homestand and nearly earned another Sunday against Boston before falling 116-110 in overtime.

Orlando led by as many as seven points in the fourth quarter but committed six of its 19 turnovers in the final period. The Magic have had at least 15 turnovers in each of their last seven contests.

"We did a good job of playing against their veteran team," said point guard Jameer Nelson, whose 20 points were one shy of matching J.J. Redick for the team lead. "We've got such a young team. There's a lot we can learn from this game."

The Magic now take on another veteran team, which is also one of the Western Conference's hottest. The Spurs (12-3) are 4-0 on their six-game road trip and blew out winless Washington 118-92 on Monday after being taken to double overtime by Toronto the previous day.

"(Tim Duncan) and (Tony Parker) lead the way, and the role players know what we would like them to do and they do it well," coach Gregg Popovich said. "I'll watch the film and try to find something to (complain) to them about, but it'll probably be unfair."

San Antonio is unbeaten on its road trip despite the absences of Stephen Jackson (broken finger) and Kawhi Leonard (knee tendinitis).

The Spurs might have to endure another absence, with the road trip concluding in Miami on Thursday. Popovich said Monday that he plans to give the 36-year-old Duncan some breaks, especially during back-to-back games.

Duncan played 41 minutes against the Raptors but 23 the next day.

"There'll be times this year when we'll sit him back-to-backs. Win or lose, he's not going to play the minutes he played (Sunday)," Popovich said.

Even if Duncan sits out Wednesday, the Spurs will still have a more experienced squad than Orlando's. Facing that competition is something that could benefit the Magic, Redick said.

"I think you can get confidence from playing against great teams," he said. "It's always a good measuring stick for us."

San Antonio has won four of the past five matchups and swept last season's two meetings, but it needed overtime to snap a three-game losing streak in Orlando. Parker had 25 points in that 85-83 victory Jan. 18, and 31 in a 122-111 win March 14. Duncan had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the home victory, and Nelson scored 25 in a losing effort.

The Orlando point guard has scored at least 20 points in back-to-back games after averaging 9.8 points in his first four games back from a hamstring and groin injury that sidelined him for six.

Spurs get 20 from Ginobili, run past Magic, 110-89

By KYLE HIGHTOWER
Posted Nov 28 2012 10:46PM

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) In a preseason tuneup against Orlando, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich limited his veterans' minutes and paved the way for the Magic to pull out a close victory.

It was a feel-good moment for first-year Orlando coach Jacque Vaughn, a former Spurs assistant, to best his former mentor in their first meeting.

That was the preseason. This time the teacher showed his pupil no mercy.

Manu Ginobili had 20 points, Gary Neal scored 19 and the Spurs earned their fifth straight win, racing past the Magic 110-89 on Wednesday night.

Tim Duncan added 15 points in 27 minutes, and Tony Parker chipped in 14 points and eight assists.

"We're just playing basketball the way we've been playing it," Duncan said. "Whoever is put in front of us, that's how we're playing. We've been playing well for a couple of games here and we hope to continue it."

The Spurs posted their eighth consecutive victory on the road and have now beaten the Magic in five of their last six meetings.

Arron Afflalo led the Magic with 16 points, followed by Jameer Nelson with 14. The Magic struggled from the field, connecting on just two of their 15 3-point attempts.

Orlando has lost two straight and concludes its season-high, five-game homestand Friday against Brooklyn. San Antonio ends its six-game road trip Thursday in Miami.

Using a barrage of outside shooting and easy transition baskets, San Antonio opened up a 20-point lead minutes into the fourth quarter and was able to coast down the stretch as its field goal shooting hovered near 50 percent.

"I don't know if it takes a perfect effort," Nelson said. "We've got to put forth more of an effort as a team and eliminate some of the mistakes we had out there and some of that uncertainty, and be more decisive offensively."

Popovich said he wanted to try to limit Duncan's minutes as they wound down the long road trip. As it turned out, the veteran didn't have to push himself against the Magic.

When he was in the game, Orlando's frontcourt players had difficulty containing him or any of San Antonio's other big men in the half court. That included Tiago Splitter, who had nine points off the bench.

For the game the Spurs connected on 44 of 88 field goal attempts, or 52 percent.

"It's early. We'll lose our share, but right now we're playing pretty well, I guess," Popovich said. "It's our second road trip this month. Six days and then 10 days, and this one, so I think they do deserve credit for keeping their focus all that time."

In contrast, Wednesday marked the second time this season the Magic starters failed to attempt a single free throw. No Orlando player attempted a free throw until there were less than five minutes to play in the game.

For the night, Orlando was just 41 of 95 from the field.

"We can't let shots dictate the rest of the game," Vaughn said. "A shot can't dictate transition defense, a missed shot can't dictate our ability to box out and not give up second-chance points ... shots have nothing to do with that."

The tone was set early with the Spurs controlling most of the first half, getting easy looks from both the inside and outside as they built a 14-point halftime lead.

The Spurs' "Big Three" were all beneficiaries, led by Duncan's 13 points, followed by Ginobili and Parker with 12 apiece.

Ginobili got hot from beyond the arc early, and was responsible for four of San Antonio's six 3-pointers in the half. That opened up the paint for Duncan, who had several makes inside of 5 feet.

Parker was equally adept at getting to the rim and also had a pair of three-point plays.

Meanwhile, Orlando couldn't find the touch from deep, going 1 for 8 from the 3-point line.

The Magic's starters struggled overall from the field, going 11 for 26 collectively.

Parker said in a way, being away from home so much early this season has been the best medicine for a team that didn't find the cohesion it was seeking in the preseason.

"We've been sharing the ball. Our offense has been clicking," Parker said. "At home we were a little bit out of sync. We've been using this road trip to jell and try to get the groove we had last year."

Popovich said he did leave the court feeling a little sympathy for the challenge Vaughn has going forward.

"Of course I do," he said. "No coach steps in anywhere, and puts in a system with new players and new faces and gets everything right, very quickly. It's going to take time...But he has the discipline, the work ethic, and the respect that he engenders with people that those qualities will get it done."

Notes: The 3-pointer Duncan hit at the end first half was just his second make beyond the arc in three seasons. ...The Magic have now had at least 15 turnovers in each of their last eight games.

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Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower.

Notebook: Spurs 110, Magic 89

Dick Scanlon, for NBA.com
Posted Wed Nov 28, 2012 11:13 PM - Updated Wed Nov 28, 2012 11:13 PM

THE FACTS: Manu Ginobili came off the bench firing and scored a game-high 20 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to their fifth straight victory, 110-89, over the Orlando Magic.

Ginobili made four straight 3-point shots to put the Spurs ahead to stay late in the first quarter, and Tim Duncan (15 points, five blocks ) nailed a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to stretch San Antonio's lead to 14.

Arron Afflalo led the Magic with 16 points, but they never threatened in the second half and the Spurs improved their NBA-best road record to 10-1.

THE STAT: The Magic did not attempt a free throw until 4:32 remained in the third quarter, and they shot 5-for-8 for the game. For the second time this season, no Magic starter attempted a free throw.

QUOTABLE: "I mentioned at halftime that we had zero free throw attempts in the first half. I think that's a sign of them being more aggressive than us and attacking the rim. It's pretty simple -- they were more aggressive than us tonight." -- Magic coach Jacque Vaughn.

TURNING POINT: Orlando had a 14-10 lead when Tony Parker got fouled on a layup with 4:59 let in the first quarter. Parker's three-point play opened a 19-4 Spurs run and they led for the rest of the game.

HOT: Ginobili, a 28 percent shooter from 3-point range in his first 13 games, made 6-of-9.

QUOTABLE II: "I wasn't coming off any good performances, shooting-wise. Today they went in. Hopefully the bad streak has turned."

-- Ginobili.

NOT: The Magic shot 2-for-15 from behind the arc, but their real problem was at the foul line where they barely shot at all.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Spurs will play their 10th road game in 22 days at Miami tonight. After losing the first of those 10, they have won eight straight.

QUOTABLE III: "I think they do deserve credit for keeping their focus all that time. ... It's the sign of a pretty experienced team and a team that's pretty focused." -- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: One of only six NBA players to average 15-plus points and 5-plus assists while shooting at least 49 percent over his career, Parker had 14 points (on 6-for-12 shooting) and eight assists.

ROOKIE WATCH: Maurice Harkless produced four points and four rebounds in his fourth start for Orlando . . . Spurs rookie Nando De Colo played almost 16 minutes, recording four points and two steals.

NOTABLE: No team in NBA history has attempted fewer than 18 free throws per game over the course of an entire season. After 14 games, the Magic average only 16.7 per game. ... Their big lead in Orlando enabled the Spurs to rest Duncan and Parker for the entire fourth quarter. ... The Spurs have won five of their last six against the Magic. ... The Magic have lost three home games by double digits this month. The last time they did that was March of 2004 when they lost five on their way to posting the NBA's worst record.

UP NEXT: For the Spurs: Thursday @ Miami, Saturday vs. Memphis, Wednesday vs. Milwaukee. For the Magic: Friday vs. Brooklyn, Sunday @ L.A. Lakers, Monday @ Golden State.

• Spurs: Jackson, Leonard
• Magic: Harrington, Turkoglu

• Spurs: --
• Magic: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
• Officials: #41 Ken Mauer, #61 Courtney Kirkland, #50 Olandis Poole
• Attendance: 17271
• Duration: 1:59