Spurs-magic Game Moved To 8:00 Pm After Spurs’ Plane Suffers Mechanical Issues

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 25: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 25, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Nothing has gone according to plan over the last 36 hours for the Spurs. First, in a game that in hindsight should have been postponed, what was supposed to be a 2:00 PM CT game in Charlotte yesterday got moved back to 11:00 AM with the hopes being the Spurs would be able to play and get out before the impending winter storm hit. Unfortunately, it was already snowing by tip-off, and after sitting on the tarmac for two hours hoping the runways would be cleared, the Spurs flight was canceled, and they were forced to stay overnight. As a result the tip-off for today’s game at home vs. the Orlando Magic was moved back from 3:00 PM CT to 6:00.

However, today hasn’t been smooth sailing, either. San Antonio Express News’ Tom Orsborn has been monitoring the Spurs’ odyssey to return home today, and it has been everyone’s worse nightmare. After finally leaving Charlotte at little after 10 AM, they were forced to land in Atlanta to change planes after their’s suffered mechanical issues, causing another extended delay.

They finally took off from Atlanta around 1:30 PM CT, and with the flight taking approximately two hours, they should land in San Antonio around 3:30 PM. That would not give them enough time to get to the arena and adequately prepare and warm up, so as a result, the game has now been pushed back again to 8:00 PM CT.

To add insult to injury, Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama have been listed as questionable for tonight’s game, with adductor and calf soreness, respectively. (Sounds like code for potential rest games since they’re referring to previous injuries, but most of these scenarios have resulted in the players playing, so hopefully that continues, especially with the added time before tip-off.)

This scenario is unlike anything I’ve seen a team go through ahead of a game, and honestly, the Spurs should be completely forgiven if they can’t pull out a win tonight. They never should have been put in this situation to begin with, and it seems like every other game that happened in the eye of this storm was properly handled. While today’s mechanical issues are not the fault of the NBA, I feel like the game in Charlotte never should have happened, and now they are in a nearly unwinnable situation tonight. If they do somehow pull this one off, it just might be their most impressive achievement of the season.

Oh, and if they win and the Nuggets lose to the Thunder, Mitch Johnson will be an All-Star coach. There’s some added motivation for tonight.