In a true display of resilience, the San Antonio Spurs overcame a blizzard and several travel delays to gut out a 112-103 victory against the Orlando Magic on Sunday. The Magic responded after the Spurs got off to a hot start, outscoring Orlando 37-21 in the first quarter. A dominant third quarter gave San Antonio the boost they needed to finish off the Magic at home.
Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama led the third-quarter run. Harper built
off his stellar performance against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday with another great outing on Sunday. He got to the rim, showed touch in the paint, and made highlight defensive plays.
Harper’s finish ability is not normal for a rookie. He looked stopped dead in his tracks on this play, but he just uses his next-level body control and touch to scoop the ball in around the defense.
Shots like this offer a glimpse into what Harper can be in a few years. Hitting these kinds of turnarounds in the mid-range show that the rookie has the touch; he’s still developing at range and at the pace of the NBA game. If he can do that, he’ll unlock another level for San Antonio’s offense.
This block was a tantalizing look at what Harper could become defensively. He’s so long and athletic, and has good instincts on the defensive end. Pair that with his ability to get into the paint and his improving shooting touch, and the Spurs could have another All-Star on their hands. Harper had 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in the win.
Don’t forget Harper’s court vision. Here, he finds the cutting Carter Bryant for a monster jam. Bryant has started to get his feet underneath him a bit more for the Spurs as the season goes on. He looks much more comfortable and isn’t forcing things as much as he used to. Dunks like these are what make his upcoming appearance in the NBA Dunk Contest so exciting.
Wembanyama once again fought through physical defense to will the Spurs to victory. No matter how many limbs and bodies the Magic threw at him, Wemby responded by getting into the paint, finishing, or getting fouled. His defensive impact was felt, especially in the third quarter, where Orlando scored just 18 points. Wembanyama had 25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 5 blocks in the win.
Wembanyama has looked stronger and a bit more resilient to contact in the last week. The Orlando and Houston games were physical bouts that tested Wemby’s will, and he stepped up to the occasion in both matchups. Plays like this show what a stronger, more physical Wembanyama can do. He absorbs the contact and still has the strength to fight through it and finish over the top with his length—scary stuff from the Spurs All-Star.
San Antonio will get a few days off before another matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 4th. Check out the video below to see full highlights from the Spurs’ win over the Magic.
