<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A hypnotist rounded up volunteers at TD Waterhouse Centre for a halftime show Monday night. No truth to the rumor that he tried to trick Orlando Magic fans into thinking the NBA champions were the guys wearing white. The NBA champion San Antonio Spurs were indeed in The 'House, dressed in black, and they distinguished themselves when they felt the urge. As is their nature, the Spurs methodically pulled away in the second half, dispatching the Magic 110-85 with all the flair of an audit. Business people coming to Orlando have more emotional sales meetings than the Spurs. While the Magic were excited about playing to a 46-46 halftime draw, the Spurs calmly called on their assorted assets -- namely the highly decorated Tim Duncan -- to erase any notions of an upset in a dominating third quarter. San Antonio outscored Orlando 31-15 in the period to lead 77-61, splaying the Magic's defense with a clinical dissection. This is how the champions do it: One moment you're feeling good and in the game, and the next you see patrons heading for the exits. This is how champions do it: Throwing the switch in the second half, the Spurs finished at 55 percent shooting (after 35 percent in the first). They grabbed seven offensive rebounds (after logging zero in the first) and scored 14 second-chance points in the final two periods (after recording zero in the first). And this is how a champion does it: Duncan scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half, including the Spurs' first eight points after the intermission. Four of his five blocks came in a harsh schooling of young Dwight Howard. Losers of four consecutive games -- the last three by at least 20 points -- the Magic (7-10) wobbled off the floor wondering when they might get their next victory. Winners of four consecutive games, the Spurs (14-3) strolled off wondering how they could get to the playoffs without falling asleep. "The Spurs turned it up a notch in the second half and you expect that. . . . They play with tremendous confidence," Magic Coach Brian Hill said. "They've been there. They know what it's all about." Duncan anchored the cold-blooded Spurs, and usual suspects Tony Parker (20 points) and veteran reserve Robert Horry (season-high 18) countered any benign Magic uprisings. The Magic actually cut the lead to 80-73 with about nine minutes left, but the Spurs -- one of the league's best defenses -- went on an 11-0 run as part of a 21-5 splurge. And it was good night and drive home safely. "They turned it up another gear," guard DeShawn Stevenson said. Jameer Nelson, starting again for Steve Francis, paced Orlando with 20 points. Stevenson added 15, Howard had 13 points and 15 rebounds and Hedo Turkoglu 11 points.</div> Source
