Magic-Spurs Preview
By JUSTIN EINHORN
Considering how poorly they fared in December, the San Antonio Spurs should look back at January and feel satisfied. That's not happening because of how the month ended.
Starting February by bouncing back from an ugly home loss seems likely Wednesday night with the Orlando Magic coming to San Antonio mired in a nine-game losing streak and visiting a city where they rarely win.
Injuries to Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker, among others, plagued the Spurs during December as they went 8-10 for their first sub-.500 month since February 1999. As their health improved in the new year, so did their record.
They won 10 of 13 to begin January, allowing 93.3 points per game after giving up 104.1 in December, but had a meltdown to close the month with a 105-85 defeat to the Clippers on Saturday.
"The competitiveness and execution wasn't there for us," guard Danny Green said. "... Things that can be easily fixed, we feel, so we can move forward and be a better team."
San Antonio (30-18) shot 37.3 percent - its worst mark at home since 2012 - and posted its lowest point total at the AT&T Center in more than a year. Parker and Manu Ginobili were a combined 4 of 17 from the field and scored 14 points with seven turnovers. The Spurs had 18 assists and fell to 0-6 when failing to surpass that total.
Ginobili explained what must change for the team to avoid more shockingly poor performances.
"Trying to share the ball better. Giving importance to every possession, every minute, like what we've done in the past," he said. "So far, it looks like we're just waiting for things to happen. It's not gonna be like that, we've just gotta go get the games."
Getting Ginobili and Parker on track would be a positive step, too. Ginobili is averaging 9.9 points on 36.1 percent shooting in the last eight games, going 7 of 28 from 3-point range. Parker is averaging 11.0 points on 40.7 percent shooting in 13 games since missing time with a hamstring problem.
Maybe seeing Orlando (15-36) in town can provide them a spark. Parker has averaged 28.6 points in his last five home games against the Magic, and Ginobili has scored 26.0 per game in his last seven.
They've helped the Spurs average 111.8 points in winning the last five meetings in San Antonio, where Orlando is 4-22 all-time. The Magic have lost the past six matchups overall and enter this one with the league's longest current skid.
A loss Wednesday would result in the fourth double-digit losing streak in 2 1/2 seasons under coach Jacque Vaughn, whose job is reportedly in jeopardy.
Porous defense has been the biggest issue. Orlando has let opponents shoot 51.1 percent during the nine-game skid and allowed more than 100 points in 13 straight. The opposition has hit 43.1 percent from 3-point range in the last seven.
"Every day we take steps forward, but we're taking the smallest steps possible," center Kyle O'Quinn said. "We need to take a giant step at some point and get over the hump and get a win."
Victor Oladipo returned Monday after missing one game with a sore Achilles, scoring 22 points in a 104-97 defeat in Oklahoma City. The Magic's only two wins in 2015 have come when he's scored more than 30.
"They're a young team with some good players," Leonard said. "I feel like they probably just haven't found it yet."