'I Had to Get Involved': Devin Vassell Steps Up in Spurs' Loss to Magic

Devin Vassell's 30-point effort was not enough as the San Antonio Spurs fell to the Orlando Magic.

The San Antonio Spurs are reeling after losing their second straight game to start the Rodeo Road Trip, and their sixth game in a row overall. The Spurs fell to the Orlando Magic, 127-111, amid a barrage of threes that went unmatched. 

The Magic shot an insane 59.3 percent from deep, which was answered by a measly 11 makes from the Spurs on 31.4 percent shooting. 

Orlando, FL; Franz Wagner (22) takes the ball to the hoop while Victor Wembanyama (1) goes for a block. 2/8/24 / USA Today

Devin Vassell finished the game with 30 points, including a whopping 23 on nine-for-nine shooting in the third quarter alone. Vassell was the only Spur to even get close to 20 points and was the only Spur to take more than a dozen shots. 

"I just feel like I was more aggressive," he said after the game "Once I see a couple (shots) go down at that point it's just I miss or not. I just knew I had to get involved. I knew this is a tough team (Orlando) and I got to play my A-game. Just coming out and being aggressive and just try anything to get going."

Vassell knew that he was the only player who could find the basket with any consistency, and he did his best to take over the game. Unfortunately, the Spurs were already down by 17 points at halftime, so it was too little, too late. 

"It just a consistency thing," Vassell said about the young Spurs team. "I think on the defensive end, we weren't talking at all in the first half. We just weren't communicating. We weren't being tough. I felt like they (Orlando) punched us in the mouth in the beginning and we just backed up."

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Orlando started the game on a 9-0 run and never looked back. Despite Vassell's best effort, the Spurs were out of the game from the start, showcasing that San Antonio has a long way before they can join the other elite young teams. 

The Spurs return to action tomorrow night against the Brooklyn Nets. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT.