The Orlando Magic are hoping to stop their recent slide when they host Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
The Magic have struggled lately, losing 10 of their last 12 games, including five out of six on their recent road trip, which ended with a 112-90 defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.
The Spurs haven’t been much better, losing eight of their past 11 games. They come into this game after a 117-116 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, in Fox’s second game with San Antonio. Fox, who joined the Spurs from the Sacramento Kings through a trade, had put them ahead 116-114 with a step-back jumper in the final seconds, but Miles Bridges hit a game-winning three-pointer for the Hornets with 1.4 seconds left.
Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson expressed frustration about the 16 offensive rebounds the Spurs allowed, which resulted in 27 second-chance points. “I put that under the physicality umbrella, and pretty, pretty disappointing,” he said.
Fox had 22 points and six assists in the loss to the Hornets, following a 24-point, 13-assist performance in his debut with the Spurs on Wednesday, a 126-125 win over the Atlanta Hawks. “He makes tough shots, big shots. He doesn’t shy away from the moment. That’s definitely something that we expect from him and that’s big time,” Johnson said.
“When there’s players that have been in those situations numerous times, there’s a certain level of calm and confidence that they play with, and I think it exudes to their teammates.”
San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors
Orlando, on the other hand, struggled against Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr., who combined for 58 points, outscoring Orlando’s starting lineup by 10. Wendell Carter Jr. led Orlando off the bench with 19 points, matching his season high.
The Magic are starting a stretch of 10 home games in the next 11. “It’s a great opportunity for us to steal a couple games, get our mojo back, our swagger back,” Carter said. “With us being back in the Kia Center, I know our fans are waiting for us back there, I think it’ll be a good thing. Especially these next three going into the (All-Star) break, I think it’ll set our tone for that back half of the season. I think there’s going to be a lot of emphasis on these next three.”
Wembanyama leads the Spurs in scoring with 24.4 points per game and in rebounding with 10.9, while making a huge impact on defense, averaging 3.88 blocks per game. If he keeps this pace, it would be the highest by any player since Alonzo Mourning’s 3.91 blocks per game in 1998-99.
Franz Wagner has been leading Orlando this season, averaging 24.8 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game. Paolo Banchero has contributed significantly, averaging 22.3 points and 7.2 rebounds over his 19 games.
Goga Bitadze has had a breakout season, leading the team in rebounds with 8.1 and adding 9.1 points per game, both career highs.
Victor Wembanyama made a crucial free throw with 2.9 seconds left, and De’Aaron Fox had an impressive debut with the Spurs as San Antonio pulled out a 126-125 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Fox, who was traded from the Sacramento Kings on Monday in a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls, scored 24 points on 11-of-22 shooting and made 13 assists. One of his missed shots led to a Wembanyama dunk that gave the Spurs a 125-123 lead with 30.4 seconds left.
Trae Young from Atlanta scored a floater with 8.5 seconds left to tie the game, but Onyeka Okongwu fouled Wembanyama during the next possession. Wembanyama purposely missed his second free throw, and Young missed a 45-foot shot as time expired.
Wembanyama finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who won despite being outshot from the field (52.7 percent to 50.5 percent). Devin Vassell added 20 points, and Jeremy Sochan contributed 15 points off the bench as San Antonio won for the third time in 10 games.
Young led all scorers with 32 points, added 12 assists but had nine turnovers. Okongwu scored 30 points, De’Andre Hunter added 22, and Dyson Daniels scored 19 as Atlanta lost for the ninth time in 10 games.
Thunder 140, Suns 109
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 50 points to lead Oklahoma City to a home victory over Phoenix.
It was the third 50-point game in Gilgeous-Alexander’s career, all within the last seven games. Oklahoma City also got 17 points from Aaron Wiggins and 13 from Jalen Williams.
Bradley Beal, a key player for Phoenix early in the game, scored 25 points off the bench. Devin Booker scored 19 points, and Royce O’Neale added 18 points.
Timberwolves 127, Bulls 108
Anthony Edwards scored 49 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Minnesota earned a victory over Chicago in Minneapolis.
Naz Reid added 22 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 15 rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 12 points.
Coby White led the Bulls with 20 points, who played on short rest after beating the Miami Heat the previous night. Josh Giddey scored 19 points, and Nikola Vucevic added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Wizards 119, Nets 102
Bilal Coulibaly achieved his first career triple-double in a solid performance as Washington beat Brooklyn for its first three-game winning streak of the season.
Coulibaly finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 11 assists. He was part of a balanced team effort, with seven Wizards players scoring in double figures, led by Jordan Poole with 19 points.
Washington Wizards (NBA)
Washington made 40 of their 44 field goals with assists to help the team’s offense. Poole had eight assists, and Bub Carrington contributed a career-high 10 assists with 16 points.
The Nets had their three-game winning streak broken. Keon Johnson led them with 25 points, while Cameron Johnson scored 17 points in his first game back after an ankle injury.
Jazz 131, Warriors 128
Jordan Clarkson scored 31 points, and Keyonte George added 26 points as Utah made a strong comeback to defeat Golden State in Salt Lake City.
Golden State had a 122-111 lead with three minutes left, but Utah scored on 10 straight possessions and made several key defensive plays to win the game.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 32 points.
Nuggets 144, Pelicans 119
Michael Porter Jr. tied his career high with 39 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Nikola Jokic finished with 38 points and 10 assists in Denver’s big win over New Orleans.
Christian Braun scored 23 points for Denver, which tied its season high in points and won both home games against New Orleans.
Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 28 points, and Trey Murphy III added 25 points and nine assists, but New Orleans lost their seventh straight game.
Magic 130, Kings 111
Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combined for 54 points to help Orlando beat Sacramento and spoil Zach LaVine’s debut with the Kings.
Wagner scored 31 points, including five 3-pointers, and Banchero added 23 points with nine assists. Orlando ended a four-game losing streak with the win.
Domantas Sabonis had 21 points and 13 rebounds for Sacramento, where LaVine, who was recently traded from the Chicago Bulls, scored 13 points on 4-for-13 shooting.
Bucks 112, Hornets 102
Damian Lillard scored 29 points, and Bobby Portis added 23 points as Milwaukee ended its four-game losing streak by defeating Charlotte.
Brook Lopez contributed 14 points, Gary Trent Jr. had 13 points, and Taurean Prince added 11 points. The Bucks shot 50.6 percent from the field and played without their leading scorer and rebounder, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Hornets lost their sixth straight game despite 23 points from Nick Smith Jr. Miles Bridges and KJ Simpson each scored 15 points, while Moussa Diabate grabbed 13 rebounds.
Cavaliers 118, Pistons 115
Darius Garland made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Cleveland a win over Detroit, continuing their streak of victories against the Pistons.
Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
Garland’s basket came after Cleveland almost let an eight-point lead slip away in the final minute. Garland finished with 25 points, and Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 30 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and four blocks. Craig Porter Jr. added 16 points, and Max Strus had 15.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 38 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, while Tim Hardaway Jr. added 20 points.
Grizzlies 138, Raptors 107
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 14 of his 32 points in the second quarter as Memphis beat Toronto.
Ja Morant added 26 points for Memphis, who has won four in a row and 10 of 11. Zach Edey, a Toronto-born rookie, had 13 points and 15 rebounds for Memphis. GG Jackson scored 17 points, Brandon Clarke had 13, and Scotty Pippen Jr. added 12 points.
Scottie Barnes had 11 points and nine assists for Toronto, who has lost two straight games.
Heat 108, 76ers 101
Tyler Herro scored 30 points, and Nikola Jovic added 23 points as Miami beat Philadelphia despite major changes to their roster.
The Heat had reportedly agreed to trade star Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors during the first half. Even with this news, Miami held off Philadelphia to earn their fourth win in six games.
Jovic shot 8-of-9 from the field, and Bam Adebayo added 18 points and 13 rebounds for Miami. Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points for Philadelphia.
De’Aaron Fox shared his thoughts on his first game as the point guard for 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama:
“He is different,” Fox said. “He is special. Just the type of defensive attention he receives allows you to do things you don’t normally do.”
It turned out to be a great start for Fox with the San Antonio Spurs.
Fox scored 24 points, matched his season high with 13 assists, and Wembanyama’s clutch free throw with 2.4 seconds left helped the Spurs win 126-125 against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Fox had been traded to San Antonio from Sacramento in a three-team trade on Sunday.
Before the game, acting Spurs coach Mitch Johnson had predicted that Fox would fit in fast with the team.
“A player of his caliber and experience has been around the league,” said Johnson, now in his seventh season. “… I don’t see any issue with him getting up to speed.”
Fox quickly showed he was comfortable in his new role. He took the Spurs’ first shot and had 18 points by halftime.
“He just brings a lot to the table for us,” Wembanyama said.
Victor Wembanyama reacts after scoring in the 2nd half
“Our goals for the season are even more attainable. We get to use all our strengths and we just added a big strength.”
Wembanyama, who was the NBA’s rookie of the year last season and will make his All-Star Game debut this month, added 24 points. He purposely missed his second free throw at the end of the game to prevent Atlanta from having a chance at a last play. Trae Young then missed a long three-pointer.
Fox contributed five rebounds and three steals.
“When I came in everybody told me to be myself and not to come in and try to fit in,” Fox said, expressing how impressed he was with his new teammates. “That’s why I think this group can be special.”
The San Antonio Spurs are likely to have second-year star Victor Wembanyama back in the lineup when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
However, it seems less likely that newly acquired De’Aaron Fox will join the trip. Multiple reports late Sunday indicated that Fox, the veteran point guard from Sacramento, is part of a three-team trade that will send Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls to the Kings.
Fox is averaging 25 points, 6.1 assists, and 5 rebounds per game and could make Wembanyama an even stronger offensive force for the Spurs.
Wembanyama missed Saturday’s last-second loss to the Miami Heat due to an illness, which is not considered serious. “Obviously, (Wembanyama) wasn’t feeling 100 percent (against Miami),” said Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson. “I expect it to be minor. It didn’t sound like it was anything drastic or extreme.”
Fox’s arrival would be a boost for the Spurs, who have lost six of their last eight games, though they did secure a dominant win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. In that 144-118 victory, Wembanyama scored 30 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and blocked six shots.
After Saturday’s 105-103 loss to Miami, Wembanyama mentioned he was dealing with allergies and was scratched from the lineup 40 minutes before the game started.
As the All-Star break approaches, Wembanyama leads the NBA with an average of 4 blocks per game, having recorded at least one block in 77 straight games. He’s averaging 24.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists and is set to be a Western Conference reserve in the All-Star Game.
Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)
The Grizzlies, on the other hand, are on a hot streak. They’ve won two straight games without star guard Ja Morant, who is out with a right shoulder injury, and eight of their last nine games. Memphis is also 20-5 at home this season.
The Grizzlies beat the Bucks 132-119 on Sunday, rallying in the fourth quarter with a big rebounding advantage (61-36) and 37 points from Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis outscored Milwaukee 39-20 in the final period.
“Our pace, we just tried to wear them down in the fourth quarter,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “We had great contributions from everyone.”
Jackson led Memphis in scoring, hitting seven 3-pointers. Desmond Bane added 22 points and nine rebounds, while Zach Edey contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Grizzlies’ bench also played a key role. Santi Aldama scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Scotty Pippen Jr. had 10 assists, nine points, five rebounds, and four steals in 23 minutes of play.
Pippen has seen significant playing time with Morant missing 21 games this season and has been effective in his role. He had a plus/minus rating of +22 in Sunday’s win.
“Scotty just tries to find ways to contribute to winning,” Jenkins said. “That’s what I’ve loved about him over the course of this season. He’s played a lot of different roles — coming off the bench, starting, playing with different personnel. He’s progressively gotten better as a decision-maker and as a playmaker.
“I told him the other day, ‘Your defensive intensity and the pace at which you play unlocks so much for our offense.’ We needed him (Sunday), and he came through for us big-time.”
De’Aaron Fox takes the ball forward in the 1st half
Victor Wembanyama has a new point guard: De’Aaron Fox is leaving Sacramento and heading to San Antonio.
Fox is a key part of a trade between three teams, which also sends two-time All-Star Zach LaVine from Chicago to Sacramento, Zach Collins from San Antonio to Chicago, and Kevin Huerter from the Kings to the Bulls, according to two people familiar with the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The trade is still pending league approval and won’t be finalized until then.
The trade also includes Jordan McLaughlin going from Sacramento to the Spurs, Sidy Cissoko moving from the Spurs to the Kings, and Tre Jones leaving the Spurs for Chicago. There are also multiple draft picks involved, with Sacramento expected to receive at least three first-round picks, one of the sources said.
The trade was agreed upon just before the NBA’s trade deadline on Thursday. This deal comes on the same day as another major trade, with Luka Dončić being sent from the Mavericks to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
Fox’s move to San Antonio is a big deal for the Spurs. Wembanyama, the reigning Rookie of the Year, is continuing to rise in the league. He’s set to play in his first All-Star Game soon, is a strong candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, and could receive MVP votes.
It’s easy to see why Fox, who is eligible for an extension this summer, would want to join the Spurs. Playing with one of the best centers in the game — a 7-foot-4 player like Wembanyama, who’s hard for any defense to stop — is an appealing opportunity for any point guard.
Zach LaVine drives to the basket in the 1st half
Fox is currently averaging 25 points, 6.1 assists, and 5 rebounds per game this season for the Kings. He’s already been an All-Star and an All-NBA player, and now, in his eighth season, he gets a fresh start alongside Wembanyama.
The Spurs were able to make this trade without giving up too much. They kept their large collection of draft picks and didn’t have to part with key young players like rookie Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan, or Keldon Johnson. The team also held on to veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, who are both in their first year with San Antonio.
It’s also a new beginning for LaVine, who heads to Sacramento to reunite with his former Bulls teammate DeMar DeRozan. He’ll also play alongside Domantas Sabonis, who is a regular All-NBA candidate.
LaVine is averaging 24 points per game this season, and he’s on track to hit that mark for the fifth time in his career. He’s a 20.7 points-per-game scorer over his career after playing for both Minnesota and the Bulls.
Huerter, who’s averaged 11.5 points per game in his career, first with Atlanta and then with the Kings, will also get a fresh start after coming off the bench 28 times in 43 games for Sacramento this season.
Collins has averaged 4.6 points with the Spurs, Jones 4.4 points, and Cissoko 1.3 points in 17 games with San Antonio. McLaughlin averaged 1.9 points in 28 games with the Kings.
Bam Adebayo sealed a 30-point performance by hitting a jumper at the buzzer, giving the Miami Heat a 105-103 victory over the short-handed San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
With 3 seconds left, Kel’el Ware grabbed a missed shot by Chris Paul, and the Heat quickly called a timeout to set up their final play. Adebayo hit a 19-foot jumper as time expired, securing Miami’s first win on their four-game road trip.
In addition to his 30 points, Adebayo contributed 12 rebounds and nine assists. Terry Rozier added 19 points, Nikola Jovic had 14, and Tyler Herro finished with 11.
For the Spurs, Keldon Johnson came off the bench to lead with 19 points, while Devin Vassell scored 18. Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul each had 12 points, and Sandro Mamukelashvili and Stephon Castle scored 10 points apiece. Charles Bassey grabbed 15 rebounds.
San Antonio was without their star center, Victor Wembanyama, who missed the game due to an undisclosed illness. The Spurs were playing the second game of a home back-to-back after a dominant 144-118 win over Milwaukee on Friday.
San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets
The Spurs were down by 11 points late in the third quarter and trailed by three heading into the fourth. However, they made a comeback and took a 99-96 lead after Mamukelashvili hit a 3-pointer with 5:15 left.
Miami regained the lead with two free throws by Herro at 2:23, but Paul answered with two of his own at 1:36, tying the game.
The first quarter ended with the game tied at 33-33. Miami then went on an 8-0 run to start the second quarter, capped off by a running layup from Jovic. But the Spurs responded, with Mamukelashvili’s layup tying the game at 42 with seven minutes left in the half.
Chris Paul’s 3-pointer at 1:53 put the Spurs up 53-52, but Miami ended the half on an 11-2 run to take a 63-56 lead into halftime. Johnson led all scorers in the first half with 17 points, while Adebayo led the Heat with 14. Miami also had strong contributions from Rozier (12 points) and Jovic (11 points).
Victor Wembanyama scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 144-118 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, ending a four-game home losing streak.
Wembanyama stood firm against Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, matching him physically when Antetokounmpo tried to push him around in the fourth quarter.
The Spurs had a 14-point lead going into the final period, and they extended it to 22 with 7:08 left to play, making it easier for Wembanyama to hold his ground.
Keldon Johnson added 24 points for San Antonio, which won just their second game in the last seven. Stephon Castle scored 20 points, Harrison Barnes had 16, and Devin Vassell and Chris Paul each scored 12 points in the win.
Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 35 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Damian Lillard contributed 22 points, Khris Middleton scored 21, and Taurean Prince added 13 points for the Bucks.
Victor Wembanyama reacts after scoring in the 2nd half
The Spurs led by as many as 11 points in the first quarter, but the Bucks came back thanks to Middleton’s 10 points, including a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game 35-35 at the end of the first.
The second quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with the Bucks taking a five-point lead when Middleton hit a jumper with 1:30 left. Wembanyama answered with a three-pointer, and Castle made a free throw to pull the Spurs to within 71-70 at halftime.
Before the break, Antetokounmpo led all players with 21 points and nine rebounds, with Middleton and Lillard adding 14 points each. Johnson led the Spurs with 20 points off the bench, and Wembanyama had 12 points.
San Antonio took the lead early in the third quarter, and after Castle hit a three-pointer, the Spurs led 81-79 at the 9:27 mark. They expanded the lead to 100-89 after two free throws by Castle with 4:15 left and reached a game-high 17-point lead when Wembanyama hit a one-legged three-pointer with 1:23 remaining.
