Magic react to Cole Anthony’s game-winning, buzzer-beating shot

Cole Anthony throughout his basketball career has hit a number of big shots, but the 3-pointer made on Wednesday to send the Orlando Magic to a last-second win over the Minnesota Timberwolves was by far the biggest to date.

Anthony, playing in just his 15th game, drilled the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to help the Magic snap a six-game losing streak with a 97-96 victory on the road. He finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes as the Magic overcame a 20-point second-half deficit.

With just 4.6 seconds left, and the Magic trailing by two points, Anthony fouled Jarred Vanderbilt. However, the Timberwolves forward missed both shots to set up the final play. Orlando had no timeouts remaining and, following the miss, Anthony eventually ended up with the ball after it tipped in his direction.

From there, instincts took over and Anthony hit the shot.

“I just saw the ball come to me,” Anthony said after the game. “I wasn’t really expecting to get it but I was just going to try to do whatever I could to help the team win. I grabbed the ball, drove to the corner like, ‘Alright, I’m not getting to the rim but I can shoot this 3.’ It felt good. I really didn’t even see the shot after I shot it. I saw it go through the net, that was about it.”

Just moments before Anthony hit the shot, teammate James Ennis found him in the corner for another 3-pointer that brought the deficit to two points. After that shot, Ennis told Anthony to stay ready and keep shooting just in case he was in a position to make a play.

“I would say, the other [3-pointer] was just as big,” Magic head coach Steve Clifford said. “He is a confident guy. I thought tonight, before watching the film, that he played a much more complete game. He’ll get better. He has the right attitude and he is learning the NBA and he is making good progress.”

To start the season, Anthony has endured quite a shooting slump.

Entering play on Wednesday, the 15th overall pick was averaging 10.1 points on just 32.1% shooting from the field and 22.4% from 3-point range. The rookie is often his harshest critic, and, admittedly, hasn’t shot the ball particularly well to begin the season.

On Wednesday, Anthony went 5-of-7 from the field, while he converted all three of his 3-point attempts to complete his best-shooting night of the season.

His teammates have often been his biggest cheerleader this season, from the encouragement Ennis gave him during the game to the advice others have given him off of the court.

“That is going to boost his confidence,” teammate Evan Fournier said. “I’m happy for him. The kid is a worker. Like I said, the kid is a competitor. He is a worker. His time is going to come. Tonight was growth for him. I mean, I really couldn’t be happier for him.”

With his teammates cheering him on every step of the way, it was only right they mobbed him in the locker room as soon as he returned from his postgame TV interview.

While Anthony has been his own harshest critic, the rest of the Magic believe in him.

They have often encouraged him to continue to play his game because he can still make plays for others, even if his shots are not falling. They have played an important role in helping Anthony begin his rookie campaign, and the 20-year-old has been very appreciative of their efforts.

“Everybody on the team has been really supportive of me from Day 1,” Anthony said. “I have struggled a lot, obviously, and no one has really blamed me for anything. They are just like, ‘Stay the course, you’re a rookie. Keep learning, keep getting better.’

“I just want to give a big shout out to everybody on the team. Everyone has been extremely supportive. There has not been one player on the team that hasn’t helped me out in some way.”

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