Spurs 110, Magic 89
ORLANDO -- The San Antonio Spurs won their fifth consecutive game -- all on the road in the Eastern Conference -- by overpowering the Orlando Magic 110-89 Wednesday night.
The Spurs, who will finish the road trip Thursday in Miami, moved in front midway in the first quarter and never were seriously challenged. They led by 14 points at halftime and by 17 after three periods, allowing their stars to watch most of the fourth quarter from the sideline.
Sixth man Manu Ginobili led the charge with 20 points, including 12 in a four-minute burst in the first quarter when the Spurs (13-3) took control. Gary Neal scored 19 points for San Antonio, and Tim Duncan had 15. Tony Parker added 14 points and eight assists.
The Magic (5-9) got 16 points from Arron Afflalo and 14 points from Jameer Nelson. Orlando shot poorly, especially from the 3-point arc, where it hit only two of 15 shots. The Spurs hit 44 of 84 shots overall (52.4 percent).
Although the Magic scored four of the first five baskets in the second half, their run ended quickly. Neal, a third-year guard from Towson State, hit four field goals in the first six minutes of the second half, allowing the Spurs to keep control.
The fourth quarter opened with back-to-back 3-point baskets from Danny Green and Ginobili, propelling the Spurs to a 23-point lead. San Antonio's offense has been outstanding on the road trip, averaging 110 points per game.
The Spurs led 55-41 at intermission, sparked by a 3-point flurry from Ginobili. Duncan led everyone with 13 first-half points, but it was Ginobili who powered an early San Antonio surge.
Ginobili hit four 3-point baskets in the last four minutes of the first quarter, keying a 19-4 run that erased an early Magic lead. The Spurs led, 29-18, after the first period.
Duncan hit a 3-pointer, just his second of the season, just as the horn sounded before halftime. Parker and Ginobili each had 12 points by intermission.
NOTES: The Magic have not hidden the fact they are trying to use this rebuilding period to remodel themselves after the Spurs. General manager Rob Hennigan, head coach Jacque Vaughn, and three others in the basketball operations department all have worked for the Spurs. All arrived since last season ended. "I'm proud that I was part of the San Antonio system," Vaughn said before Wednesday's game, "but you take those experiences and create your own model.". ... Coach Gregg Popovich, the architect of the San Antonio system, said he knew years ago that Vaughn would become an NBA head coach. Vaughn played for and coached under Popovich. He also is the youngest coach today in the NBA at 36. "It was pretty obvious he had that intuitive feel for the game," Popovich said. "He knows what he's doing, and he's doing it well." ... Despite having the most wins in the NBA, the Spurs may have had the toughest November schedule. They had a four-game road trip early, and they will finish a six-game trip Thursday night in Miami. "We are getting tired," Popovich said before Wednesday's game.
