The Spurs required a 4th quarter run to fend off the Magic the previous month for their eleventh consecutive victory.
A victory Thursday may represent more than a bit of deja vu.
the Spurs can grab an eleventh straight win for the 2nd occasion this year when they travel to the Amway Center trying to deliver the fresh look Magic a 9th defeat within ten games.
San Antonio (25 - 3) had been leading after 3 quarters within the 1st ten wins of their twelve game winning stretch the previous month, however had to make a run during the 4th to defeat the Magic 106 - 97 on November 22nd. The Spurs started from behind once again 2 evenings later to defeat the Timberwolves in extra time for the last win of their streak.
After splitting 4 contests in the interim, the League's best club is on an additional run. San Antonio had to build a tremendous 4th quarter come-back to increase their present stretch to ten, however they did, out-scoring the Nuggets 29 - 14 during the last twelve minutes Wednesday to snatch a victory with a 109 - 103 win.
The previous occasion the Spurs had 2 double figure winning runs within a season was 2003 - 2004 when they had runs of thirteen & eleven matchups.
Orlando (16 - 12) would merely settle for any win these days. The Magic dropped 5 of 6 before Saturday's monumental deals that landed Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu, the circumstance has not improved.
The latest acquisitions have been around for the last 2 matchups, a 91 - 81 defeat at the Hawks on Monday & a 105 - 99 loss versus the Mavs on Tuesday, but have not done much to assist. The trio is throwing in a combined 13 for 53 (24.5 %).
Dwight Howard has definitely been doing his part to help shoulder the burden the while the Magic make tweaks to their new rotation. The 2 time defensive player of the year has had 3 consecutive twenty board games, however he has also played forty minutes in every game. That work-load might turn into an issue, as Orlando has almost no front-court depth after dealing 2nd shift Marcin Gortat.
Howard has averaged just 11.5 points and 10.0 rebounds during last two visits, but Orlando have won by an average of 19.0 points.
He will have his hands full down low with Tim Duncan; however the largest worry should be the back-court. Tony Parker & Ginobili combined for forty-nine points & nineteen dishes within the victory against Orlando the previous month.
Ginobili had been leading the way with twenty-five points, & when he has performed effectively against Orlando so have the Spurs. San Antonio are 5 - 0 when Ginobili puts in twenty-five or more versus the Magic.
the Magic may additionally want to maintain a focus on Matt Bonner. The three 0 point assassin has had fifteen points within each of the previous 2 victories within the series.
San Antonio are 15 - 0 when Bonner puts in a minimum of 6 points.