Spurs-Magic Preview
By KEVIN CHROUST
There was a time when it looked like the San Antonio Spurs might need much of their eight-game April schedule to secure a playoff position, but as it has been for the previous 17 seasons, postseason basketball is now likely a foregone conclusion.
Wins against the Orlando Magic have also fit that description for five seasons, and the Spurs can make a certainty of their playoff fate Wednesday night in their first April contest as they conclude a two-game Florida swing seeking a fifth straight win.
After play on Feb. 25, San Antonio (48-26) was 34-23 and in seventh place in the Western Conference, fourth in the Southwest Division and no lock for an 18th consecutive playoff appearance. Since, it's 14-3 with the win total trailing only Golden State, and while it has climbed just one spot in the conference, the No. 2 seed and a division title aren't yet out of the question.
The Spurs' charge toward the top of the Southwest took another step forward Tuesday with a 95-81 win in Miami to drop their magic number to one. They can clinch yet another postseason berth with a win or a New Orleans loss Wednesday at the Los Angeles Lakers, but they're also just 2 1/2 games back of Memphis with a two-game hole in the loss column.
Kawhi Leonard had 22 points, nine rebounds and four steals against the Heat, and the small forward has taken off over the last 17 games with 19.4 points per game while shooting 52.7 percent. That's up from 14.8 and 43.8 percent in his first 39 games while he dealt with a torn ligament in his right hand. His 2.25 steals per game lead the NBA, and he's averaged 2.65 in the last 17.
The four straight wins have come by an average of 21.2 points with the Spurs' 3-point percentage (41.5) outdoing their opponents' field-goal percentage (40.5). They've held each opponent to 91 points or fewer.
"We played good D," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
San Antonio is also seeking an eighth straight win in the series. In the previous seven, the Spurs have shot 50.2 percent and 40.4 percent from beyond the arc. A 110-103 home win over the Magic on Feb. 4 was in line with those numbers with Tim Duncan's 26 points and 10 rebounds leading the way.
Leonard chipped in 18 points, and while his 14.3-point average in his last four games in the series is comparatively modest against his season average of 16.2, he's shot 77.8 percent from the field and 92.3 percent from the foul line in those contests against the Magic.
Orlando (22-52) concludes a five-game homestand and should be rested after last taking the floor in Friday's 111-97 loss to Detroit.
The Magic might have used the practice time to reboot their perimeter attack. After going 3 of 15 from long range against from the Pistons, they're 10 of 48 (20.8 percent) over three straight losses that have come by an average of 15.0 points. They've lost nine of 10 as they've watched opponents shoot 41.5 percent from 3-point range.
"We have to show improvement," Tobias Harris said after scoring a team-high 21 points. "The fans come out to support us and we have to show some urgency out there and build something."
Harris could be in for an interesting matchup with Leonard having scored 23 in each of his last two games against the Spurs while shooting 69.0 percent.