By R.L. Bynum
Orlando lost all six games while Cole Anthony was out with a sprained right ankle and the Magic was glad to have him back.
Anthony made an impressive return to help Orlando snap a seven-game losing streak.
He scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the second half as the Magic rallied from a 16-point deficit to earn a 108–103 home victory over the Denver Nuggets.
“We just fought as a team,” said Anthony, whose team trailed 63–47 at halftime. “We got back in the locker room and nobody was pointing fingers. We got a nice little team dub right there.”
It was Anthony’s ninth game with at least 20 points this season and the 10th game that he’s led Orlando (5–18) in scoring. It gave the Magic only its second home victory.
Anthony’s return was particularly big for Orlando considering rookie Jalen Suggs is out with a broken right thumb.
“Obviously, we don’t want to repeat that first half,” said Anthony, who had eight rebounds and seven assists. “But we can build on what we did the second half right here and carry that over to the next game and if we play that for four quarters, we have a chance to win some games.”
Coby White is fully vaccinated but has entered the NBA’s health-and-safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19, Bulls coach Billy Donovan said after Wednesday’s practice.
He won’t make the trip to the New York area for games against the Knicks and the Nets because he’s now required to be away from his team for at least 10 days under NBA rules. It’s possible he could return sooner with two negative tests.
Reggie Bullock started for only his third time this season in Dallas’ 139–106 victory at New Orleans. Bullock had six points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal in 18 minutes.
In Philadelphia’s 88–87 road loss to Boston, Danny Green had six points in 21 minutes.
An MRI confirmed that Portland’s Nassir Little has a sprained left ankle and he’s expected to be out about a week.
Harrison Barnes missed his fourth consecutive game with a strained right foot, Sacramento’s 124–115 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
108–103 win vs. Denver — Started; 36 minutes, 24 points, 10–21 FG, 1–5 3FG, 3–3 FT, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 turnover, +7, 18.8 game score
Season statistics — 17 games, 19.9 points, 42.1 FG%, 35.9 3FG%, 86.6 FT%, 6.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Friday at Houston; 10 p.m. Monday at Golden State
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
124–115 win at Los Angeles Clippers — Missed his fourth consecutive game with a sprained right foot
Season statistics — 19 games, 19.0 points, 47.8 FG%, 39.8 3FG%, 84.6 FT%, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Los Angeles Clippers; 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Orlando
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 17 games, 3.6 points, 55.8 FG%, 4.2 rebounds, 0.4 of an assist
Up next — 7:30 p.m. Thursday at New York, NBATV; 7:30 Saturday at Brooklyn
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
139–106 win at New Orleans — Started; 18 minutes, 6 points, 2–3 FG, 2–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +18, 4.2 game score
Season statistics — 19 games, 5.6 points, 35.7 FG%, 28.8 3P%, 57.1 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 8:30 Friday vs. New Orleans; 8:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Memphis
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
111–85 win at Miami — 3 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 block, -1, 1.0 game score
Season statistics — 8 games, 1.9 points, 70.0 FG%, 50.0 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 0.1 of an assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Friday at Washington; 3:30 p.m. Sunday vs. Utah
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 14 games, 6.7 points, 40.2 FG%, 39.5 3FG%, 1.6 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Friday vs. Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN; 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Boston, TNT
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
88–87 loss at Boston — Started; 21 minutes, 6 points, 2–6 FG, 2–6 3FG, -6, 1.4 game score
Season statistics — 15 games, 7.7 points, 46.5 FG%, 41.9 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Up next — 7:30 Friday at Atlanta, ESPN; 7 p.m. Monday at Charlotte, FSSE
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 21 games, 8.8 points, 41.1 FG%, 39.0 3FG%, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Up next — 9 p.m. Thursday vs. Detroit; 10 p.m. Friday at Golden State
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 21 games, 8.3 points, 47.8 FG%, 31.7 3P%, 82.8 FT%, 5.3 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Thursday vs. San Antonio, NBATV; 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Boston
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Off Wednesday
Season NBA statistics — 8 games, 2.6 points, 52.9 FG%, 33.3% 3P%, 2–5 FT, 2.1 rebounds
Season G League statistics — 2 games, 15.5 points, 4–12 FG, 40.9 3P%, 71.4 FT%, 12.5 rebounds, 4 steals, 6 blocks
Up next — 7:30 p.m. Friday vs. Minnesota; 7:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Chicago
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 9 games, 6.1 points, 34.9 FG%, 22.6 3P%, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Up next — 7:30 p.m. Thursday at New York, NBATV; 7:30 Saturday at Brooklyn
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In G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends (Mavericks affiliate) forward
Season statistics — 6 games, 22.5 points, 49.0% FG, 44.6% 3FG, 72.7 FT%, 8.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 of a steal
Up next — 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 vs. Austin Spurs
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Theo Pinson, Maine Celtics guard
Season statistics — 8 games, 19.1 points, 48.1 FG%, 44.4 3FG%, 89.5 FT%, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals
Up next — 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 vs. Raptors 905
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