On its best start to the season since 2011, the Magic continued its good series last night against Charlotte, winning at home (130-117) for a seventh success in a row.
However, it was the Hornets who took the lead in the first quarter with a very good 15/22 on shots, and many easy baskets on the counter-attack. But the Magic passed a scathing 22-6 to Charlotte to start the second quarter, including Caleb Houstan who scored 6 consecutive points coming off the bench to widen the gap.
The entry of Cole Anthony brings a huge spark for the Magic and Goga Bitadze is already enjoying a third easy dunk in the first half; but the Hornets manage to reduce the distance, with Terry Rozier taking advantage of the spaces in the Magic paint.
The Magic insists and the Hornets crack
Ahead at the break (61-57) thanks to 12 points from Franz Wagner, in the second quarter alone, the Magic left on the same basis after returning from the locker room. The German winger from Orlando is still in the oven and at the mill, intercepting and finishing while passing under the circle. He added 11 points to his total over the period… just like rookie Brandon Miller, who allowed Charlotte to stay in contact before the home stretch (92-86).
But the Hornets completely explode in the last quarter. Despite Miles Bridges and PJ Washington who combined for 21 points, it was Orlando who took the lead behind an unstoppable Cole Anthony, author of 18 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. Orlando therefore pockets a seventh success in a row (130-117), which quite simply propels them to 2nd place in the Eastern Conference, tied with the big names of Milwaukee, and ahead of the Sixers!
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– LaMelo Ball out with injury. It was after a layup at the end of the first half that Ball (once again) hurt his right ankle, on contact with Paolo Banchero who was trying to block him and seemed to have fallen with all his weight on the leader of the Hornets. It’s obviously a hard blow for the young leader who started the season on the sidelines and who therefore finds himself in the infirmary earlier than expected… The Ball brothers are decidedly fragile!
– Cole Anthony’s furious last shift. The candidacy of the Magic’s replacement leader for the best sixth man trophy is becoming more and more serious! Author of a fiery last quarter, with 18 points on 5/6 shots and 7/7 shots, to finish at 30 points, plus 7 rebounds and 7 assists, Anthony remains in 8 games in a row at 10 points or more off the bench.
– We can’t stop the Magic! This hadn’t happened to them since the 2011-12 season, more than twelve years ago, in the heyday of Dwight Howard and his clique coached by Stan Van Gundy: Orlando is on a series of 7 successes in a row. Very close to the top of the Eastern Conference, in 2nd place behind only the Celtics, tied with the big names of Milwaukee, and ahead of the Sixers, Coach Mohsley’s young squad is realizing its immense potential!
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
