The Magic worked their way back from a fourth-quarter deficit to weather a Donovan Mitchell 50-point performance and force a Game 7. Josh Robbins of The Athletic writes that everyone in the rotation made an impact, including Cole Anthony, who had a major bounce-back game after scoring five combined points in the past two games.
“I thought Cole won us the game today,” Franz Wagner said. “He had huge minutes off the bench, making plays on both sides, and that’s what it takes to be successful in the playoffs.”
Anthony played most of the fourth quarter with Gary Harris out, scoring nine points and connecting on a crucial put-back play.
“I’ve lost a lot of trust with my lack of [quality] play this season,” Anthony said. “It’s been a tough year. But, look, at the end of the day, I’m just here to try and help this team win. That’s the cure-all for everything is a ‘dub.’ And we got a ‘dub’ tonight. Magical.”
Orlando hasn’t been able to defeat the Cavaliers in Rocket Mortgage Arena in the playoffs this season. In three games, the Magic are shooting 38% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc in Cleveland. Even still, they’re embracing the challenge.
“I can’t wait to go out there and play in Cleveland, a hostile environment, one where we haven’t won one yet, where all the odds are stacked against us,” Suggs said. “It’s just everybody here on this roster, everybody on our bench, a couple family behind the bench against an entire city. And I don’t think none of us want it any other way.”
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Individual play from Anthony and other players like Markelle Fultz and Moritz Wagner mattered as much as the 75 combined points from Paolo Banchero (27), Franz Wagner (26) and Jalen Suggs (22) did in Game 6, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel writes. The Magic need to continue their “by committee” approach when it comes to Game 7, Beede writes.
- Even though Harris missed Game 6 with a hamstring strain, he wasn’t far off from returning. “Gary was close,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said (Twitter link via Beede). “He’ll come in [Saturday], get a little bit of treatment and we’ll re-evaluate him after that.“
- With a crucial offseason looming, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer takes a look at which Hornets players might stay or go for the 2024/25 season. While Boone thinks newcomers Tre Mann and Grant Williams played themselves into a role for next year’s team, several projected reserves like Bryce McGowens, Vasilije Micic, Nick Richards and JT Thor could be on the move, either in free agency or via trade.
- The Wizards had a franchise-worst win percentage this season, but no team has better odds for the top pick in the draft, and Washington’s roster features several intriguing young players. Ahead of a season in which major growth from these players is expected, Monumental Sports Network’s Chase Hughes evaluates what a few of them said they plan to work on this season. “This offseason I’m trying to improve on my shooting, getting my shot up a little bit quicker,” 2023 No. 7 overall pick Bilal Coulibaly said. “Creating my own shot, too, so being able to dribble the ball a little bit more and better. Handle the ball better. That would be a good part.“