The day began with uncertainty, stretched into frustration and ended, finally, with resolve.
After winter weather and travel complications pushed tipoff more than five hours past its scheduled start, the San Antonio Spurs shook off the chaos and delivered a 112–103 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night at the Frost Bank Center — a win that reflected not just talent, but resilience.
When the ball finally went up, the Spurs played as if eager to reclaim control of a day that had refused to cooperate. San Antonio burst out of the gate, scoring 37 points in the first quarter, fueled by crisp ball movement and an aggressive defensive effort. Victor Wembanyama immediately imposed his will on both ends of the floor, blocking shots, finishing in traffic and energizing a crowd that had waited all evening to see their beloved Spurs.
For a moment, it appeared the long day would fade quietly into a comfortable win, but Orlando had other plans.
The Magic flipped the game in the second quarter, outscoring the Spurs 40-23 and exposing the fatigue that inevitably crept in. San Antonio’s shots stopped falling, turnovers piled up, and the early lead vanished as Orlando seized momentum before halftime. What once looked routine had turned into a test.
It was in that moment — after the delays, after the lost rhythm — that the Spurs steadied themselves and took control for good.
“Heck of a response by those guys and they’ve proven that quite a bit this year,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “I am very pleased with the effort and the response. The defense in the second half was nails.”
San Antonio opened the third quarter with renewed purpose, stringing together stops and launching a 10-2 run that reclaimed control. The pace slowed, the defense tightened and the Spurs began to impose their will inside, winning the rebounding battle and repeatedly earning trips to the free-throw line.
“I think it was more challenge and yelling,” Johnson said of his team’s defense in the second half. “We saw what happened in Charlotte where one quarter cost us the game. So I was pleased with the response in the second half.”
De’Aaron Fox guided the offense with patience, finishing with 14 points and 10 assists, while Dylan Harper provided 15 points off the bench to keep Orlando from gaining traction. And hovering over it all was Wembanyama, whose 25 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and four steals told only part of the story. His presence altered possessions, changed decisions and anchored San Antonio when the game hung in the balance.
The Magic made their final push in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit and briefly threatening to turn the night on its head. Each time, the Spurs answered — a stop here, a free throw there — refusing to let the game slip back into chaos.
When the final horn sounded, the frustrating issues of the day no longer mattered.
“It was a great day,” Harper said with a smile. “This is what comes with the game, but if we’re going to play — we’re going to play hard. We are here for the fans and we poured our energy into it.”
What remained was a victory earned the hard way, one shaped by patience and grit. On a night delayed by travel issues and defined by uncertainty, the Spurs found clarity where it mattered most — on the scoreboard.
Game Notes
- With the Oklahoma City Thunder’s victory over the Denver Nuggets, Coach Johnson has been named a head coach for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. Johnson and his staff will coach one of the three All-Star teams in the new U.S. vs. World format.
- Despite the win, the three-point woes continue to be an issue for the Spurs. San Antonio shot just 8-for-29 (27%) from beyond the arc. The good news? Orlando wasn’t much better, shooting just 33% from distance.
- With Stephon Castle out with abductor tightness, Harrison Barnes made his return to the starting unit and finished with seven points. What will be interesting to see if Coach Johnson puts HB back on the bench once Castle returns from injury.
- I’m not sure why Desmond Bane was so angry at Wembanyama and Carter Bryant, but he clearly had some issues after fouling both players hard in the second half. Maybe he needs a Snickers.
