Cole Anthony and the Orlando Magic are having a tough month. Since Markelle Fultz was lost on the season, Anthony has been forced to play more than the team hoped. This stretch started on January 6th. The team was 6-2 and playing better than hoped.
After the Fultz injury, the Magic lost six straight games when entering the January 20th game against Minnesota. Had a game against Boston not been canceled, the team might have been looking at a seven-game losing streak. For his part, Anthony had a 19/15 assist to turnover ratio. His plus-minus also nosedived to a -79 during this stretch.
Anthony wasn’t ready to run the team so early and the team was not ready to sustain injuries to key players. The team has played with Fultz, Evan Fournier, and Michael-Carter Williams. All three players could also help with ball-handling and distribution. The six-game losing streak felt like it may never come to an end. It felt like the Magic were digging a hole they could never come out of. The Magic and Anthony needed to take a deep breath.
Cole Anthony gave the Orlando Magic a shot in the arm
Wednesday night provided that breath of fresh air. Fournier returned to the team. Anthony played to a plus 10 and only had one turnover. More importantly, Anthony hit the most important shot of his career. Anthony sprinted down the court to launch the game-winning three just before the buzzer. His teammates swarmed him like he just won a playoff game. You would have thought the win put the Magic into first place.
COLE ANTHONY GAME WINNER. ??pic.twitter.com/ZTNXmyKcfo
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 21, 2021
Although this was a game-winning shot for what seems like a meaningless game, there is more to it. The Timberwolves are not good. Neither were the Knicks and Orlando lost to them just two days before. Orlando needed something to break the negative momentum. So did Cole Anthony.
Now Anthony and the Orlando Magic have a chance to breathe. Even if it is just for one night, they had a reason to celebrate. If they can begin to start getting players back, they can create momentum. We may all look back and see this as the game that helped them make the playoffs. Even if not, it could be the win that stops the tailspin into the bottom of the standings.
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