The San Antonio Spurs showed true resilience, overcoming a snowstorm and several travel delays to win 112-103 against the Orlando Magic on Sunday. The Spurs got off to a strong start, defeating Orlando 37-21 in the first quarter, and the Magic responded. A dominant third quarter gave San Antonio the momentum it needed to finish off the Magic at home.
Dylan Harper and Victor Wembaneyama led the third-quarter run. Harper put together a great performance against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday and continued his strong performance on Sunday. He got to the rim, showed touches in the paint and made some highlight defensive plays.
Harper’s finishing ability is unusual for a rookie. On this play, he appeared to be stationary, but used next-level body control and touch to scoop the ball around the defense.
Shots like this offer a glimpse of what Harper will become in a few years. Hitting a comeback hit like this at mid-range shows that a rookie has talent. He’s still growing within the scope and pace of the NBA game. If he can do that, he will take San Antonio’s offense to a new level.
This block was intriguing to see what Harper would be like defensively. He’s very tall and athletic and has great defensive instincts. Combine this with his ability to penetrate the paint and improved shooting touch, and the Spurs could have another All-Star on their hands. Harper contributed to the victory with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Don’t forget Harper’s courtroom vision. Here he finds Monster Jam’s Cutting Carter Bryant. Bryant is starting to find his feet a little more with the Spurs as the season progresses. He seems much more comfortable and doesn’t push himself as much as he used to. It’s dunks like this that make his future participation in the NBA Dunk Contest so exciting.
Wenbanyama once again used his physical defense to lead Spurs to victory. No matter how many limbs and bodies the Magic threw at him, Wenby responded by getting into the paint, finishing or getting fouled. His impact defensively was especially evident in the third quarter, when Orlando scored just 18 points. Wenbanyama recorded 25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 5 blocks in the win.
Wenbanyama looked stronger and a little more resilient to contact last week. The games against Orlando and Houston were physical matches that tested Wenby’s will, and he stepped up to the plate in both matchups. Plays like this show what Wembane Yama is capable of being stronger and more physical. He has the strength to absorb contact and still fight through it and use his length to finish on top — something scary for the Spurs All-Star.
San Antonio will have a few days off until their next game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 4th. Check out the video below to see all the highlights from the Spurs’ win over the Magic.