By R.L. Bynum
For the seventh consecutive game, Markelle Fultz started at point guard for Orlando ahead of Cole Anthony.
But, with Fultz in foul trouble Sunday night against the Toronto Raptors, Anthony played the most minutes since he returned from missing 15 games with a right oblique tear and made the most of them.
In 29 minutes, Anthony collected 14 points, six rebounds, six assists and a steal as the Magic won 111–99 for the franchise’s first three-game win streak since February 2021.
Once he got in the game, he just wanted to give Orlando a boost.
“I felt I did that, had some timely buckets,” said Anthony, who put up a 14.5 game score. “I thought I did a pretty solid job defensively. It’s a great win. I’m super, super happy about that.”
Fultz had seven points and four assists in 23 minutes but picked up his fifth foul midway through the third quarter.
For a player who is used to starting games, what is Anthony thinking when he starts games sitting on the bench?
“I’m just thinking I deserve to be out there,” Anthony said. “I feel I put a lot in a lot of work. But at the time right now, that’s not my role. So I’m gonna embrace whatever I’m doing and give 110% every time I step on the floor.”
Anthony tied his season-high in assists (also Oct. 22 against Boston), scoring 10 points and dishing out four assists in the second half.
He has been particularly effective on the defensive end in recent games.
“They used to call me a liability, man,” Anthony said of his defense. “I don’t want to hear it anymore; I guard.”
Harrison Barnes had another solid night with 15 points, but the Sacramento Kings lost 112–99 at New York in the Knicks’ fourth consecutive victory. It was Sacramento’s third game of a six-game Eastern Conference road trip.
In Chicago’s 123–122 overtime loss at Atlanta, Coby White played a season-high 31 minutes, 28 seconds and finished with 12 points, a season-high six rebounds and four assists. His previous high was 31 minutes, 3 seconds in a 10-point game on Oct. 21 in Washington.
Chicago’s Tony Bradley didn’t play (coach’s decision).
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
111–99 win vs. Toronto — 29 minutes, 14 points, 5–9 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3–3 FT, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, +11, 14.5 game score
Season statistics — 11 games, 13.5 points, 43.4 FG%, 37.8 3P%, 83.9 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals
Next games — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Atlanta; 7:30 Friday at Boston
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
112–99 loss at New York — Started; 35 minutes, 15 points, 4–10 FG, 1–5 3FG, 6–9 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, -12, 6.6 game score
Season statistics — 25 games, 13.8 points, 49.1 FG%, 31.1 3FG%, 81.8 FT%, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Philadelphia; 7:30 Wednesday at Toronto
Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Age 24 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
123–122 OT loss at Atlanta — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 7 games, 19 minutes, 10 points, 3–5 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 1 assist
Next games — 7:30 Wednesday vs. New York, ESPN; 8 p.m. Friday vs. New York
Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
Off Sunday
Season statistics — 25 games, 4.6 points, 31.1 FG%, 28.7 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games — 8:30 Monday vs. Oklahoma City; 9 p.m. Wednesday vs. Cleveland
Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 220| sixth NBA season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
Off Sunday
Season statistics — 10 games, 56 minutes, 6 points, 2–13 FG, 2–11 3FG, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 2 steals
Next games — 10:30 Monday at Los Angeles Clippers, NBATV; 10 p.m. Tuesday at Los Angeles Lakers, TNT
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Off Sunday
Season statistics — 26 games, 6.1 points, 75.6 FG%, 57.5 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist, 1.8 blocks
Next games — 9 p.m. Tuesday vs. New Orleans; 9 p.m. Thursday vs. New Orleans
Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
Off Sunday
Season statistics — 8 games, 28 minutes, 4 points, 1–5 FG, 0–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Next games — 8:30 Monday vs. Oklahoma City; 9 p.m. Wednesday vs. Cleveland
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Off Sunday
Season NBA statistics — 17 games, 152 minutes, 61 points, 23–45 FG, 3–4 3FG, 12–17 FT, 57 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 18 blocks
Season G League statistics — 2 games, 24.0 points, 21–28 FG, 0–3 3FG, 3–6 FT, 15.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 blocks
Next games — 7 p.m. Monday at Washington; 7:30 Friday at Toronto
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 22 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
123–122 OT loss at Atlanta — 31 minutes, 12 points, 4–12 FG, 4–9 3FG, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 fouls, +8, 10.0 game score
Season statistics — 18 games, 7.4 points, 39.0 FG%, 32.1 3P%, 2.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Next games — 7:30 Wednesday vs. New York, ESPN; 8 p.m. Friday vs. New York
In the G League
Garrison Brooks, Westchester Knicks center
Age 23 | 6–10, 240 | Rookie| UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)
Off Sunday
Season statistics — 13 games, 13.3 points, 62.5 FG%, 0–9 3P, 60.9 FT%, 12.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.7 of a block
Next games — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Long Island; 7 p.m. Thursday at Long Island
Out while recovering from surgery
— Phoenix forward Cameron Johnson is expected to return this month 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.
Out until mid-January
— Portland forward Nassir Little suffered a mild femoral impaction fracture to his right hip on Nov. 29. His season statistics: 21 games, 5.5 points, 47.3 FG%, 37.2 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Get an explanation of the game score metric here.
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