The top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2021 season

Top 10 Orlando Magic Games of 2021 Season

6. Cole’s first game-winner — at Minnesota Timberwolves (Jan. 20)

Our Coverage

Grades
Cole Anthony’s patience and preparation paying off for Orlando Magic

Like Chuma Okeke, Cole Anthony needed to find his place in the league. He needed his moment.

This was not supposed to be it. Terrence Ross fouled out with 1:40 to play putting the rookie into the game. Orlando was down four at the time and crept to within two after Cole Anthony hit a three with about 30 seconds to play. It looked like Orlando would be toast after Aaron Gordon missed a potential go-ahead three.

It took Jarred Vanderbilt missing two free throws to set things up. And the Magic had no timeouts. If they did, the ball likely would not find its way to the rookie guard.

But everything worked out perfectly to get the ball to Anthony’s hands. And the Magic learned that night that Anthony is not going to shy away from the moment. And then he is going to revel in it too.

Vanderbilt’s second miss caromed off long and Anthony had to dig it out. With time winding down, Anthony had no choice but to get to the 3-point line and take the shot himself.

Anthony took a running leaner to get a look at the basket. When he made it, it sent everyone on the Magic’s bench to euphoria. Anthony ran around the court, avoiding the dogpile that was inevitably coming for him. He had to be corralled back to the court to do the postgame interview — his first of many memorable ones.

Losing this game to a team struggling as much as the Timberwolves were at the time would have been disastrous for the team. They could not afford this loss and it certainly would have made the decision to pull the plug come sooner.

But more importantly, it showed Anthony could step up in a big moment. And he was not going to be afraid of that moment.

That was a big reason the team drafted him.