By R.L. Bynum
Charlotte dealt with a former UNC point guard for the second consecutive game and it went differently this time, thanks to a big fourth-quarter Hornets comeback Monday night.
In Charlotte’s first game since Coby White had 18 points, eight assists and two turnovers in the Chicago Bulls’ 123–110 victory on Friday, Cole Anthony and the Orlando Magic had control early in the fourth quarter.
The Hornets rallied from a 14-point third-quarter deficit to beat the host Magic 107–104 in what was a solid game for Anthony with 14 points on 6 of 12 shooting with five rebounds, six assists and only two turnovers.
“I’m starting to feel comfortable out there,” Anthony said. “Getting familiar with everyone and the game is starting to slow down for me. That’s something that’s really showed in the last couple of games. We’ve just got to keep building off of this.”
Blowing the lead was frustrating for him, though, as Orlando fell to 1–8 since Anthony took over as the starting point guard after Markelle Fultz suffered a season-ending injury.
“That’s two games back-to-back where we play a great three quarters and it’s just that one quarter that we kind of fall apart and break down,” Anthony said.
The wins have been hard to get but he’s been playing well. Anthony’s 12.7 game score Sunday was his third-best of the season. His three best game scores have come in the last five games.
Orlando would have had a chance at a final shot but got called for a five-second violation when Anthony was unable to inbound the ball fast enough.
“It’s hard to make a pass when pretty much eighty percent of the court is blocked by the guy guarding me and we’ve got a set play we’re trying to run,” Anthony said. “It’s just a hard pass to make. There are several other moments in that game that lost that game, not just that.”
Anthony gets another shot at Charlotte as the teams play again Monday night in Orlando.
With Harrison Barnes’ Sacramento game at Memphis postponed, the only other games involving UNC alums were the Portland Trail Blazers’ 116–113 home victory over the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City’s 108–100 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
For New York, Reggie Bullock missed the game with neck soreness and Theo Pinson didn’t play. For Portland, Nassir Little was scoreless with a rebound and an assist in six minutes.
Justin Jackson didn’t play in the Thunder’s loss.
How Tar Heels did Sunday, what’s ahead
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
107–104 loss vs. Charlotte — Started; 27 minutes, 14 points, 6–12 FG, 2–4 3FG, 0–0 FT, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, -1, 12.7 game score
Season statistics — 17 games, 10.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 35.0FG%, 29.8%3P, 88.9FT
Up next — Monday vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m., FSS; Wednesday vs. Sacramento, 7 p.m.
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
Game at Memphis postponed
Season statistics — 16 games, 15.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 47.8FG%, 39.0%3P, 83.8FT%
Up next — Wednesday at Orlando, 7 p.m.; Friday vs. Toronto in Tampa, Fla., 7:30 p.m.
Tony Bradley, Philadelphia Sixers center/forward
No game
Season statistics — 5 games, 4.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist, 47.8 FG%, 0–0 3FG, 1–3 FT
Up next — Monday at Detroit, 7 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
116–113 loss at Portland — Missed game with neck soreness
Season statistics — 15 games, 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 38.5FG%, 34.8%3P, 70.0FT%
Up next — Tuesday at Utah, 9 p.m.; Friday vs. Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
No game
Season statistics — 12 games, 2.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 39.3G%, 0–0 3FG, 83.3FT%
Up next — Monday at Golden State, 10 p.m., NBATV; Wednesday at Golden State, 10 p.m., ESPN
Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
No game
Season statistics — 11 games, 11.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 51.7FG%, 50.0 3P%, 70.0FTG%
Up next — Monday vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.; Wednesday at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
No game
Season statistics — 17 games, 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 37.7FG%, 36.0%3P 72.7FT%
Up next — Monday at Detroit, 7 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Justin Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
108–100 loss at Los Angeles Clippers — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 5 games, 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist, 45.5FG%, 21.4%3P, 75.0FT%
Up next — Monday at Portland, 10 p.m.; Wednesday at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
No game
Season statistics — 15 games, 11.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 44.8FG%, 35.3%3P, 82.4FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Oklahoma City, 9 p.m.; Thursday vs. Golden State, 10 p.m.
Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
116–113 win vs. New York — 6 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, -3, 1.0 game score
Season statistics — 5 games, 1.2 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2–5 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1–2 FT
Up next — Monday vs. Oklahoma City, 10 p.m.; Thursday at Houston, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
116–113 loss at Portland — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 6 games, 0 points, 0–5 FG, 0–5 3FG, 1 rebound
Up next — Tuesday at Utah, 9 p.m.; Friday vs. Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
No game
Season statistics — 16 games, 15.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 40.2FG%, 35.8%3P, 84.2 FT
Up next — Monday vs. Boston, 9 p.m.; Wednesday game at Memphis postponed
What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.
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