The Orlando Magic rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 116-105 on Tuesday night, April 1, 2025, at the Frost Bank Center. This victory marked a significant turnaround for the Magic, who had struggled in their previous game against the LA Clippers just a day earlier.
Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero led the charge for Orlando, each scoring 24 points. Wagner also contributed 5 rebounds and 7 assists, while Banchero added 10 rebounds and 4 assists to his impressive stat line. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was another key contributor, scoring 23 points and hitting a season-high seven three-pointers.
The Magic's victory improved their record to 37-40, allowing them to leapfrog the Atlanta Hawks for seventh place in the Eastern Conference with just five games remaining in the regular season. Meanwhile, the Spurs fell to 31-44, marking their fifth consecutive loss.
San Antonio initially held a strong position in the game, leading by as many as 11 points in the third quarter. However, a late surge from the Magic turned the tide. With 6:25 remaining in the game, Orlando took the lead for good at 95-93 following an offensive rebound and dunk by Jonathan Isaac. The Magic then went on a remarkable 10-2 run, extending their lead to 10 points with just under four minutes left.
Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson expressed disappointment after the game, stating, "It’s a tough one, because for three quarters you feel you played really, really well. The fourth quarter leaves you feeling pretty bad, though, and down." This sentiment was echoed by Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, who noted, "They ramped up their defense in the fourth quarter, played a little harder, made it a little tougher for us. I’ll give them that."
Harrison Barnes led the Spurs with 24 points, while Champagnie added 19 points off the bench, including five three-pointers. Stephon Castle also contributed with 16 points, but his seven turnovers proved costly for San Antonio. The Spurs were without their starting center, Jeremy Sochan, who was ruled out just 40 minutes before the game due to back spasms. Charles Bassey was also sidelined due to injury management for a bone bruise in his left knee.
Despite leading at halftime, the Spurs struggled to maintain their momentum. They had a 68-61 lead early in the third quarter, but Orlando's defense tightened, limiting San Antonio to just 38.6 percent shooting in the second half. Orlando outscored the Spurs 37-21 in the final quarter, a stark contrast to their offensive output in the previous game.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley praised his team's resilience, saying, "We got a lot of good stops, switched up our defense a little bit. Also got lucky on some plays where they missed some open ones, but definitely our best defensive quarter." This defensive effort was crucial in allowing the Magic to capitalize on their scoring opportunities.
Caleb Houstan also made his mark, scoring 12 points and hitting four three-pointers off the bench. The Magic's ability to shoot from beyond the arc was instrumental in their victory, as they made 18 three-pointers on 47 attempts. This performance improved their record to 5-0 when making 18 or more triples in a game.
As the game progressed, the Magic's shooting improved, contrasting with their previous struggles. Orlando typically scores a significant portion of their points from free throws or in the paint, but in this game, they managed to score 41.3 percent of their points from three-point range.
Looking ahead, the Magic will face the Washington Wizards on Thursday, April 3, while the Spurs will look to end their losing streak against the Denver Nuggets on the same day. The Magic's recent performance has positioned them well for a potential playoff push, while the Spurs will need to regroup quickly to salvage their season.
In a noteworthy moment, Chris Paul of the Spurs played in his 1,347th career game, surpassing Kobe Bryant for 15th place in games played in league history. At 39 years old, Paul continues to be a vital part of the Spurs' lineup, having played in all 75 games this season.
As the regular season winds down, both teams face critical matchups that could determine their postseason fates. For the Magic, the momentum from this victory could be a turning point as they aim to secure a spot in the play-in tournament. For the Spurs, the challenge will be to overcome their recent struggles and find a way to finish the season strong.
