By John Denton Feb. 15, 2017
ORLANDO – The tough-luck Orlando Magic just can't win for losing these days.
First, their newest addition, Terrence Ross, was denied a chance to play in what could have been his initial game with the Magic because the Tuesday trade between Orlando and Toronto didn't become finalized until approximately 7:40 p.m. – some 30 minutes after Wednesday's tipoff.
Then, in something of a cruel twist of fate, an Orlando team that has had trouble stopping smaller, quicker teams all season – hence the trading of Serge Ibaka to Toronto for Ross – was smashed inside by the bigger, more physical San Antonio Spurs.
Put those two factors together and the short-handed Magic never had much of a chance on Wednesday in an ugly 107-79 loss to San Antonio – one that extended their drought without consecutive wins to 52 days and 24 games.
“It definitely wasn't the best game to go small, but it is what it is. Trades happen and we players can only do what we can, which is to go out there and play,'' Magic center Nikola Vucevic said after San Antonio rode LaMarcus Aldridge (23 points) and scored 42 points in the paint in the game. “It was definitely tough because they had a big mismatch with LaMarcus and Jeff (Green) to start the game. It is what it is and we have to get used to (playing small) as quickly as we can.''
Orlando attempted to shake up its roster and save its sour season on Tuesday by dealing Ibaka – a free-agent-to-be in July – to the Raptors for Ross, a plus 3-point shooter and an athletic wing who should help it be better prepared to guard 3-point-heavy, small-ball lineups. Ross hurriedly caught a plane to Orlando on Tuesday night, passed his physical on Wednesday morning and had hopes of playing against the Spurs – something Magic head coach Frank Vogel said was going to happen if he was cleared to play.
However, that was never possible on Wednesday because the NBA did not put the final seal of approval on the trade until after tipoff. Ibaka also didn't play for the Raptors, reportedly because of his fatigue from travelling from Florida to Toronto.
“I was ready. I came in early and got shots up, went through the plays and talked to the coaches, so I was ready,'' Ross said after the game. “I talked to some of the guys back in Toronto and they were like, `Yeah, it's not going to happen.' So I was kind of bummed out after that.''
So, too, was an Orlando team hopeful that it could get Ross on the floor to indoctrinate him into its style of play. Vogel has yet to decide whether he'll start Ross or use him as a change-of-pace reserve, but the ultra-athletic wing is expected to get consistent minutes and shots for the first time in his five-year career in Orlando's small-ball attack.
Not being able to start that new-look style with Ross in the fold was clearly a letdown for the Magic on Wednesday.
“I guess Serge got cleared a few minutes after the cut-off for us to have Terrence, but it would have big to get him out there and let him play with some unfamiliarity and everybody just play the game of basketball,'' Vogel said. “But it didn't happen and we can't get caught up on that.''
One of the Magic's biggest wins of the season came in San Antonio on Nov. 29. But Wednesday's game was never much in doubt with the Spurs racing to a 14-point lead in the first quarter and a 25-point bulge before halftime behind the stellar post play of Aldridge (10 of 13 shooting in the game). For the game, Orlando shot just 39.5 percent from the floor and made only four of 18 3-pointers. San Antonio, meanwhile, connected on 47.2 percent of its field goals and had eight 3-pointers.
“(Alrdidge) gave us a great start offensively and I thought the team did a good job defensively to start the game,'' San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “We just need to do the right stuff on the road – we want to start out good defensively and move the basketball and get some assists. I think we had (13) assists in the first half, so we did a good job.''
Wednesday's game featured the NBA's only two teams with more road wins than home victories – and that wasn't a good thing for the Magic (21-37 overall). Orlando fell to a disappointing 9-18 at the Amway Center, while San Antonio (43-13 overall) won its NBA-best 24th road game.
Vucevic, who seems almost certain now to finish a fifth season in Orlando without making the playoffs, finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Forwards Aaron Gordon (11 points and six rebounds) and Green (11 points) and guard Evan Fournier (nine points) struggled through poor shooting nights. Starting point guard C.J. Watson (seven points and zero assists in 12 minutes) did not return to the floor for the second half because of a sore right Achilles' tendon.
Mario Hezonja had a second straight solid game off the bench by scoring eight points in 24 minutes.
MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points on eight of 18 shooting for the Spurs. Former Magic center Dewayne Dedmon made his first regular-season return to the Amway Center and had a triple-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Orlando captured a stirring victory in Miami on Monday night to end a four-game losing streak. Its hope was to win again on Wednesday and head into the break for the NBA All-Star Game with some feel-good momentum. However, stringing together any kind of momentum has been a mystery for weeks for the Magic. They haven't won consecutive games since beating the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 23 and 26th.
The Magic will now break for the NBA All-Star Game. Gordon, who played his second game on Wednesday after sitting out two games with a bruised right foot, is the only Magic player participating in the festivities and is the heavy favorite to win Saturday night's NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
The Magic won't play again until Feb. 23 when they host the Portland Trail Blazers. Earlier that day, the NBA trade deadline will hit and Orlando GM Rob Hennigan hinted on Tuesday that the team could have more activity to try and better the roster.
The first order of business after the break? Figuring out how to incorporate Ross into the Magic's new small-ball attack where they hope to become a team that relies more on player and ball movement and has more success shooting 3-pointers.
“It's a good opportunity because it's a new and fresh start for me,'' said Ross, a five-year veteran in the NBA. “I look forward to this and embracing me role – whatever it is and just really being excited to play.''
Down as much as 25 early in the game and trailing by 17 at intermission, the Magic showed some fight in the third quarter and got within 68-56 on a 3-pointer by Elfrid Payton. However, the run didn't last too long as the Spurs went right back to Aldridge for the next two baskets. By the end of the third quarter, San Antonio heated up from the 3-point line and took an 85-64 lead into the fourth period.
Vogel's message to the team after the game was to come back from the break for the All-Star Game ready to go to work on re-making the look of the team moving forward.
“Recharge the batteries, enjoy the break and we've got a lot of work to do,'' Vogel said. “I think we've got 24 games left and we're going to try to keep improving and play through our shift in identity in trying to play smaller and all the things that come a long with that. We want to improve and win as many games as we can.
“I have a strong idea of how we're going to play and we've already shifted a little bit with the second unit playing small,'' Vogel added. “And I played my whole last year in Indiana playing small, so I've got a good feel for all the things that we need to try and do.''
