The top 10 games of the Orlando Magic’s 2022 season

Top 10 Orlando Magic games of the 2022 season

7. Cole Anthony goes bonkers — vs. Utah Jazz (Nov. 7)

The energy for the Orlando Magic at the start of the season was a bit frenetic.

The team had a rookie head coach who was still getting a feel for how to manage a game. They had a young team that played with a lot of energy, but it was not quite focused on anything. They would have a long stretch in each game where everything was just not working and they would get buried.

The vibes were still good. But everything was not coming together. Orlando’s early-season play left a lot to be desired and it did not seem like anything from training camp really hardened yet.

The Magic already had a win and showed what they could do when it all came together when the Utah Jazz came to town on the second night of a back-to-back for Utah. The team still needed something to show they could put it all together.

What they got was a Cole Anthony performance for the ages and a defining early-season win for what the Magic were trying to build.

Anthony scored 33 points, highlighting it with two monster dunks in transition in the final moments of the game as the Magic climbed back and overtook the Jazz for the win. R.J. Hampton ended up getting the call to close the game and did some incredible work stymying Donovan Mitchell. R.J. Hampton also set up a big three for Gary Harris late in the game that helped clinch the victory.

This was a game full of chaotic energy. The kind of energy and spunk the Magic played with early in the season. The kind of bravado and vibes that carried the team through this difficult season.

The Magic got better as the season went on. This was a good burst from a young team early in the season to show the team had something to cook with.