Magic deliver second upset as a double digit underdog

Cole Anthony (Jose Garcia, Wikimedia Commons)

One would expect the Orlando Magic to struggle on the court with all of their injuries. The list includes center Moritz Wagner of Berlin, Germany (torn anterior cruciate ligament), small forward Franz Wagner (Moritz’s younger brother) of Berlin with a torn oblique, forward Paolo Banchero of Seattle, Washington (torn oblique), and guard Jalen Suggs of Saint Paul, Minnesota (back spasms).

For the second time in the last three weeks, the Magic have been a double digit underdog and won. On Monday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, considered one of the most historic arenas in all of basketball, the Magic were magical as they defeated the New York Knicks 103-94 as an 11.5 point underdog. The previous upset came on December 23, when they beat the Boston Celtics 108-104 as a 10 point underdog.

In Orlando’s latest upset, they were led by point guard Cole Anthony of Portland, Oregon, who had a team high 24 points. He made nine of 18 field goals, three of four free throws, and three of seven shots from downtown.

Three other Magic players delivered with double digits in points. Center Wendell Carter Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia had 19 points, shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 15 points and power forward Jonathan Isaac of The Bronx, New York had 13 points.

What was most impressive in Orlando’s win was their bench. The Magic’s bench outscored the Knicks’s bench 50-18. Isaac and Carter Jr. were bench players.

With the win, the Magic improved to a record of 22 wins and 16 losses. That is the fourth best record in the Eastern Conference.