After squandering a lead in a loss to Dallas, the Orlando Magic will continue a season-high five-game road trip against the host San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
It’s the first of two meetings between the teams over a nine-day stretch, with the Spurs traveling to Orlando to complete the season series on Feb. 8.
The Magic head to the Alamo City after a 131-129 loss at the Mavericks on Monday. Orlando led by 16 points but coughed up the advantage by the end of the third quarter, setting the stage for a final period that featured seven lead changes over the final 7 1/2 minutes. The Magic ultimately missed a last-second 3-pointer after intentionally missing a free throw.
Orlando has played 25 games on the road this season and 13 of them have been decided by five points or fewer. Nine have come down to one possession — three points or fewer.
Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 36 points and nine rebounds on Monday, marking the ninth time in Orlando’s past 10 games that he’s been the team’s leading scorer.
Franz Wagner added 21 points, Anthony Black racked up 20 off the bench with a 7-of-9 showing from the floor, Moritz Wagner had 16 points and Cole Anthony hit for 11 points in the loss, the third in four games for Orlando.
The Magic, playing the second game of a home-road back-to-back, were without point guard Markelle Fultz, who was held out for left knee injury maintenance. Fultz is expected back in the lineup for Wednesday’s game.
San Antonio will try to rebound from a 118-113 loss at home to Washington on Monday. The Spurs, in search of their first three-game winning streak of the season, led by 14 points early in the second quarter and by six heading to the fourth, but could not seal the deal.
Devin Vassell led San Antonio with 24 points. Victor Wembanyama added 22 points and 11 rebounds, Cedi Osman hit for a season-high 20 points off the bench, Keldon Johnson had 14 points and Tre Jones scored 11 in the loss.
Wednesday’s game is the fifth of a seven-game homestand for the Spurs.
