By R.L. Bynum
In only his fifth game of the season, Cole Anthony felt good just to be playing after missing the previous 16 games with a right oblique tear.
The result wasn’t what Orlando wanted, a 125–108 home loss to Atlanta on Wednesday night. Still, it was helpful for the Magic to have not only Anthony but 11 other available players after only nine were available in Monday’s road loss to Brooklyn.
Fellow guard Markelle Fultz fractured his big left toe in the offseason and missed the first 21 games before making his season debut Wednesday.
Anthony contributed 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 23 minutes before fouling out. Fultz had eight points and four assists in 17 minutes.
“I felt pretty good, especially that second half,” said Anthony, who scored seven points after halftime. “Got to get going a little bit. It just felt good playing again.”
Anthony brings an element that Orlando has been missing with his ability to drive and finish at the basket.
“I think he has that intensity about him trying to get himself going, get something going,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said. “That was the level of getting on the ball, attacking the rim and trying to find the right play. I loved his aggression when it came down to it. For us, it’s got to be continuing to put those pieces together as they work their way back in and out of lineups.”
Orlando (5–17) hopes to build some momentum with a full roster finally, with its losing streak now at six games.
“It’s great to have guards back on the floor,” Mosley said. “A lot of it is going to be a rhythm for these guys. Because they’re back in the lineup doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to fall back into the puzzle piece right away. They’ve got to develop a chemistry, how they play with the guys in the lineup — we’re going to have to keep looking at that.”
Atlanta coach Nate McMillan recognizes the impact Anthony can have.
“He’s a guy who can create offense on his own and certainly play off the ball and gives them another weapon coming off the bench,” McMillan said.
Harrison Barnes was back at the top of his game, and, in no coincidence, his Sacramento Kings rolled.
Barnes contributed an efficient 22 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 26 minutes. The Kings overwhelmed the visiting Indiana Pacers 137–114 to end a three-game losing streak that followed seven consecutive wins.
Barnes’ 20.4 game score was his third above 20 this season and second in five games.
The Kings (11–9) are 8–1 when Barnes scores at least 13 points.
Day’Ron Sharpe missed the Brooklyn Nets’ Wednesday game against the Washington Wizards with a non-COVID-19-related illness. He was available for the previous three games but didn’t play (coach’s decision).
Nassir Little suffered a right hip strain in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 118–112 home loss Tuesday to the Los Angeles Clippers and didn’t play in Wednesday’s 128–109 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Against the Clippers, he had a point and a rebound in 15 minutes.
After sitting out a weekend game, Reggie Bullock didn’t start for the first time this season in the Mavericks’ 116–113 Tuesday win over Golden State. Bullock played 14 scoreless minutes, missing three 3-point attempts. Theo Pinson didn’t play (coach’s decision).
In Chicago’s 132–113 Wednesday loss at Phoenix, Coby White had two points in 19 minutes and Tony Bradley, in his first action in six games, scored two points in three minutes.
Walker Kessler had five points in 22 minutes of Utah’s 124–112 Wednesday home win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
In the G League on Tuesday night, rookie Garrison Brooks collected 14 points, 12 rebounds, a season-high seven assists and two steals in the Westchester Knicks’ 119–106 home win over Greensboro.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
125–108 Wednesday loss vs. Atlanta — 23 minutes, 11 points, 3–7 FG, 0–1 3FG, 5–5 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -15
Season statistics — 5 games, 14.6 points, 41.7 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Next games — 7:30 Friday at Cleveland; 8 p.m. Saturday at Toronto
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
137–114 Wednesday win vs. Indiana — 26 minutes, 22 points, 6–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 9–10 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, +30
Season statistics — 20 games, 13.2 points, 47.6 FG%, 28.1 3FG%, 86.9 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Next games — 4 p.m. Saturday at Los Angeles Clippers; 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Chicago
Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Age 24 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
132–113 Wednesday win at Phoenix — 3 minutes, 2 points, 1–2 FG, 1 rebound, plus/minus of 0
Season statistics — 6 games, 15 minutes, 7 points, 2–4 FG, 2–2 FT, 7 rebounds
Next games — 10 p.m. Friday at Golden State, 10 p.m.; 6 p.m. Sunday at Sacramento
Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
116–113 Tuesday win vs. Golden State — Didn’t start; 14 minutes, 0 points, 0–3 FG, 0–3 3FG, -14, -2.1 game score
Season statistics — 19 games, 4.8 points, 29.1 FG%, 27.1 3P%, 72.7 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Thursday at Detroit; 12:30 Saturday at New York
Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 220| sixth NBA season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
134–121 Wednesday win vs. Miami — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 8 games, 45 minutes, 6 points, 2–10 FG, 2–9 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 steals
Next games — 7:30 Friday vs. Miami; 6 p.m. Sunday at Brooklyn
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
125–112 Wednesday win vs. Los Angeles Clippers — 22 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, +8
Season statistics — 21 games, 5.0 points, 71.4 FG%, 51.7 FT%, 4.9 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist, 1.6 blocks
Next games — 9 p.m. Friday vs. Indiana; 9 p.m. Saturday vs. Portland
Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers small forward
Age 22 | 6–5, 220 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
118–112 Tuesday loss vs. Los Angeles Clippers — 15 minutes, 1 point, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 turnover, -4, -0.1 game score
128–109 Wednesday loss at Los Angeles Lakers — Missed game with a right hip sprain
Season statistics — 21 games, 5.5 points, 47.3 FG%, 37.2 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games — 9 p.m. Saturday at Utah; 9 p.m. Sunday vs. Indiana, NBATV
Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
116–113 Tuesday win vs. Golden State — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 4 games, 16 minutes, 4 points, 1–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Next games — 7 p.m. Thursday at Detroit; 12:30 Saturday at New York
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
113–107 Wednesday win vs. Washington — Missed game with a non-COVID-19 illness
Season statistics — 14 games, 111 minutes, 38 points, 14–30 FG, 2–3 3FG, 8–12 FG, 40 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, 7 blocks
Next games — 7:30 Friday vs. Toronto; 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Boston
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 22 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
132–113 Wednesday win at Phoenix — 19 minutes, 2 points, 2–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -5
Season statistics — 13 games, 8.1 points, 40.9 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 1.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Next games — 10 p.m. Friday at Golden State, 10 p.m.; 6 p.m. Sunday at Sacramento
In the G League
Garrison Brooks, Westchester Knicks center
Age 23 | 6–10, 240 | Rookie| UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)
119–106 Tuesday win vs. Greensboro — Started; 29 minutes, 14 points, 5–6 FG, 2–2 FT, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 fouls, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +5
Season statistics — 9 games, 13.3 points, 59.5 FG%, 0–8 3P, 73.2 FT%, 12.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 steals
Next games — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. College Park; 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Capital City
Out while recovering from surgery
— Phoenix forward Cameron Johnson is expected to return in early December or as late as early January after having right knee surgery on Nov. 8. His season statistics: 8 games, 13.0 points, 44.6 FG%, 43.1 3P%, 72.7 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists
— Memphis forward Danny Green will miss most of the season after surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee suffered in May.
Get an explanation of the game score metric here.
Photo via @orlandomagic
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