Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) shoots during the second half of an NBA game vs the Brooklyn Nets at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Cole Anthony hit the game-winning basket with 1.3 seconds left to cap a furious rally as the host Orlando Magic erased a 21-point deficit and completed an NBA season sweep of the Brooklyn Nets with a 102-101 victory on Sunday.
The Magic ended their fourth win over the Nets this season on a 22-4 run over the final 7:16 and capped the comeback on Anthony’s dramatic shot.
After Jalen Wilson sank two free throws with 6.2 seconds left, Orlando called its final timeout. Rookie Tristan da Silva inbounded to Anthony from the left sideline and the guard moved to the basket.
READ: NBA: Magic tie franchise mark with 25-point comeback vs Heat
Anthony got by Keon Johnson and Simmons and hit an uncontested stepback four-foot jumper. After Anthony’s clutch shot, Da Silva blanketed Cam Thomas at the left corner as the Brooklyn guard missed a 3-point try at the horn.
COLE ANTHONY GAME WINNER 🚨
MAGIC CLOSE ON A 22-4 RUN 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FTJlmVCLJc
— NBA (@NBA) December 29, 2024
da Silva led the Magic with 21 points to go along with seven assists and six rebounds. Goga Bitadze collected 11 rebounds and added 19 points, including a free throw that gave Orlando its first lead since the opening quarter with 17.7 seconds left.
Caleb Houstan hit two 3s in the comeback and added 12 while fellow reserve Anthony contributed 10. Anthony did not play in the first half but replaced Jalen Suggs, who exited at halftime with a sprained wrist.
READ: NBA: Depleted Magic pull off comeback win over Celtics
Thomas returned from a hamstring injury and led all scorers with 25 off the bench but the Nets did not make a field goal in the final 7:16 and lost for the 10th time in 13 games. Wilson added 16 and
Keon Johnson contributed 14 as the Nets also lost Cameron Johnson to a sore left hip after the third.
The Nets took the loss after trading Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Los Angeles Lakers for D’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis.
After taking a 61-43 lead by halftime, the Nets held a 71-50 lead when Keon Johnson hit three free throws with 7:55 left in the third. Thomas scored Brooklyn’s final six points of the third to give the Nets an 83-68 lead into the fourth and Wilson sank three triples in a span of 47 seconds to up the lead to 97-80 before Orlando stormed back. –Field Level Media