For the third time this season, the Orlando Magic lost their leading scorer to injury. It didn’t keep them from coming back from more than 20 points down for the second time in eight days.
With Jalen Suggs on the bench after a second-quarter wrist injury, backup guard Cole Anthony hit the game-winning layup to complete a 17-point fourth-quarter comeback.
The Magic got 10 points from Anthony, 19 points and 11 rebounds from Goga Bitadze and 21 points from rookie Tristan da Silva to win a game they trailed by 21 points halfway through the third quarter.
Orlando made a similarly-improbable comeback on Dec. 21, when Anthony spearheaded a 37-8 fourth quarter run and the Magic overcame a 22-point deficit to stun the Miami Heat. They did it without Suggs in that game as well, along with Gary Harris, an ejected Wendell Carter, Jr. and stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, both out with long-term oblique injuries.
They’ve been pulling out these wins thanks to players from the back of the bench — some from way back. 21-year-old Caleb Houstan, who averages 1.2 points, came through with 12 points Sunday, shooting 3-for-4 from three-point range. One of those threes tied the game with 50 seconds to go.
Orlando also got a bounce back game from da Silva. He was held scoreless in the Magic’s loss to the Knicks Friday, but scored 13 points in the final quarter, shooting 5-for-6. On Anthony’s game-winner, the play was supposed to go to da Silva, but the Nets swarmed the rookie, and Anthony took advantage by attacking the basket.
The Magic could have folded in any of these games, especially missing their four leading scorers (including Moe Wagner, out for the season with an ACL tear). That they’re still fourth in the Eastern Conference is a testament to their toughness, and a sign that they could be truly dangerous when Banchero returns.
