By R.L. Bynum
The Orlando Magic and Cole Anthony continue to be on a roll. Late in the game, the fourth-year pro took a pass and threw down a memorable alley-oop dunk.
Anthony poured in 25 points and three 3-pointers with six rebounds, five assists and two blocks to lead Orlando to a 139–120 home win over Washington for the Magic’s eighth consecutive victory, one short of the franchise record set in 1994, and matched twice this century.
Jalen Suggs passed to an elevating Anthony in transition with 6:40 left in the game. Anthony caught the ball with his right hand, pulled back and slammed home a highlight-reel dunk, re-enacting the iconic LeBron James to Dwyane Wade dunk, to shove Orlando’s lead to 21.
Anthony has scored at least 15 points in the last six games, averaging 20.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists during that stretch.
As always, Anthony came off the bench, putting up a 22.3 game score one game after scoring 30 points and producing a 28.9 game score in Sunday’s victory over Charlotte. Those two games with a game score of at least 20 come after Anthony had only three such games (with a high of 23.9 against San Antonio in a 23-point game on Dec. 23, 2022) last season.
Orlando, which went 34–48 last season, is 13–5, leads the Southeast Division by three games and is tied for second place in the Eastern Conference with Milwaukee, one game back of Boston.
Harrison Barnes had nine points, five rebounds and five assists in Sacramento’s 131–117 home loss Wednesday to the Los Angeles Clippers.
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Reggie Bullock played for the first time in three games and only the third time in the last nine Houston games as the Rockets lost 134–124 Wednesday at Denver. In 12 minutes, Bullock scored six points, two 3-pointers and had a rebound.
Walker Kessler came off the bench to contribute nine points, eight rebounds, six blocks and two assists in Utah’s 105–91 loss at Memphis.
In the G League on Wednesday, Pete Nance started and had 18 points, two 3-pointers, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in the Cleveland Charge’s 115–90 home win over Grand Rapids.
Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 33 | 6–7, 225 | 14th season | $19 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting power forward ahead of Keldon Johnson
Season statistics — 64 games, 10.2 points, 44.8 FG%, 38.3 3P%, 84.9 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Team record: 53–18, 2nd in Western Conference
Thursday: 101–100 win vs. Phoenix — Started; 23:05, 6 points, 3–6 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, -4
Saturday: 134–119 win vs. Indiana — Started; 22:34, 12 points, 4–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, +21 (tied for team-high)
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday at Miami
Leaky Black, Washington Wizards guard
Age 26 | 6–6, 209 | 3rd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Season G League statistics — 38 games, 10.3 points, 45.6 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals
Season NBA statistics — 5 games, 10.0 points, 46.2 FG%, 40.0 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assist
Team record: 16–52, 14th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: 117–95 loss vs. Detroit and Saturday: 132–111 loss vs. Oklahoma City — Didn’t play
Next game — 7:30 Sunday at New York
Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets forward
Age 29 | 6–8, 210 | 7th season | $22.54 million salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season statistics — 44 games, 11.8 points, 46.6 FG%, 43.1 3P%, 83.5 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Team record: 43–28, 5th in Western Conference
Wednesday: 125–118 loss at Memphis — Started; 33:29, 20 points, 7–13 FG, 5–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -6
Friday: 121–115 win vs. Toronto — Started; 30:55, 6 points, 2–7 FT, 0–4 3FG, 2–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +7
Next game — 5 p.m. Sunday vs. Portland, NBATV
Pete Nance, Milwaukee Bucks center
Age 25 | 6–9, 225 | 3rd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Season G League statistics — 12 games, 19.0 points, 53.7 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 8.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks
Season NBA statistics — 35 games, 4.6 points, 57.1 FG%, 47.8 3P%, 2.1 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Team record: 29–41, 11th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: 128–96 loss at Utah — 13:02, 0–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, -14
Saturday: 108–105 win at Phoenix — 27:01, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 3 fouls, +1
Next game — 10:30 Monday at Los Angeles Clippers
Drake Powell, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 20 | 6–5, 195 | Rookie season | 4-year NBA rookie contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting shooting guard
Season NBA statistics — 52 games, 6.1 points, 41.4 FG%, 29.2 3FG%, 90.5 FT%, 1.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Season G League statistics — 5 games, 11.8 points, 44.2 FG%, 36.4 3FG%, 72.7 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals
Team record: 17–53, 13th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: 121–92 loss vs. Oklahoma City — Started; 16:22, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1 turnover, -13
Friday: 93–92 loss vs. New York — Started; 24:36, 2 points, 1–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, -12
Next game — 6 p.m. Sunday at Sacramento
Coby White, Charlotte Hornets forward
Age 26 | 6–4, 195 | 7th season | $12.88 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup point guard behind LaMelo Ball
Season statistics — 40 games, 17.6 points, 43.6 FG%, 34.8 3PFG, 81.3 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists
Team record: 37–34, 10th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: 130–111 win vs. Orlando — Didn’t start; 22:50, 27 points, 7–13 FG, 5–8 3FG, 8–8 FT, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, -2
Saturday: 124–101 win vs. Memphis — Didn’t start; 19:12, 12 points, 4–11 FG, 1–4 3FG, 3–4 FT, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 turnovers, 4 fouls, +13
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Sacramento
Out for season
— Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe (UCL tear in left thumb); season statistics: 62 games, 8.7 points, 60.1 FG%, 23.1 3P%, 67.8 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
— Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (torn labrum in left shoulder); season statistics: 5 games, 14.4 points, 70.3 FG%, 75.0 3P%, 70.0 FT%, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.8 blocks
Waived
— Cole Anthony by the Phoenix Suns
— Tony Bradley by the Indiana Pacers
RJ Davis, South Bay Lakers guard
Age 23 | 6–0, 180 | rookie season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2020–25 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 46 games, 18.6 points, 46.3 FG%, 41.8 3P%, 86.9 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Friday: 111–98 win vs. Grand Rapids Gold — Started; 33 minutes, 25 points, 8–16 FG, 3–7 3FG, 3–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 3 turnovers, +13
Saturday: 119–111 win vs. Grand Rapids Gold — Started; 29 minutes, 22 points, 8–10 FG, 1–2 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 fouls, 1 turnover, -8
Next game — 10 p.m. Tuesday vs Stockton Kings, ESPN+
Harrison Ingram, Austin Spurs forward
Age 23 | 6–5, 230 | 2nd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Season NBA statistics — 3 games, 11 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +13
Season G League statistics — 35 games, 16.2 points, 49.3 FG%, 34.1 3P%, 61.0 FT%, 12.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.1 steals
Friday: 121–107 win at Noblesville Boom — Started, 34 minutes, 26 points, 11–16 FG, 2–3 3FG, 1–1 FT, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 fouls, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +11
Next game — 3 p.m. Sunday at Noblesville Boom
Caleb Love, Rip City Remix (Trail Blazers) guard
Age 24 | 6–3, 212 | Rookie season | Two-way contract | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
NBA season statistics — 45 games (limited to 50 under his two-way contract), 11.3 points, 39.0 FG%, 32.1 3P%, 73.5 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists
G League season statistics — 10 games, 24.7 points, 43.3 FG%, 23.5 3P%, 75.8 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.6 turnovers
Friday: 126–117 loss vs. Raptors 905 — Started; 37 minutes, 33 points, 9–21 FG, 4–12 3FG, 7–9 FT, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 foul, 2 turnovers, +3
Saturday: 115–107 win vs. Raptors 905 — Started; 30 minutes, 20 points, 7–22 FG, 1–7 3FG, 3–3 FT, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 fouls, 4 turnovers, -14
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday at Austin Spurs, ESPN+
Cormac Ryan, Wisconsin Herd (Bucks) guard
Age 26 | 6–5, 195 | 2nd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Season statistics — 31 games, 20.9 points, 48.8 FG%, 42.2 3P%, 89.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals
Friday: 123–105 loss vs. Motor City Cruise and Saturday : 113–108 loss vs. Motor City Cruise — Didn’t play
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday vs. College Park Skyhawks
Photo via @OrlandoMagic
