Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony, right, celebrates a shot against the Miami Heat with teammate guard Trevelin Queen during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
ORLANDO, Florida — Cole Anthony scored 27 of his 35 points in the second half and the Orlando Magic tied their largest comeback in franchise history to beat the Miami Heat 121-114 after trailing by 25 points on Saturday night.
The Magic also trailed by 22 entering the fourth quarter before outscoring the Heat 37-8. Their 25-point comeback ties a mark set on Nov. 8, 1989 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Anthony also had eight rebounds and nine assists. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 24 points and Goga Bitadze added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic, who lost center Mo Wagner to a knee injury in the first quarter and center Wendell Carter Jr. to an ejection before halftime.
READ: NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 35, Thunder turn back Magic
Every bucket from Orlando’s 37-8 fourth quarter 🔥
They complete the largest comeback in the play-by-play era (1997-98) in Magic franchise history! pic.twitter.com/HJTD9HnOxX
— NBA (@NBA) December 22, 2024
Bam Adebayo and Terry Rozier led Miami with 23 points each, and Tyler Herro added 22.
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Wagner went down with a left knee injury and did not return. Guard Jalen Suggs was a late scratch after injuring his ankle Thursday night.
Takeaways
Heat: Playing without Jimmy Butler, the Heat went cold in the fourth quarter to blow their lead.
Magic: After Carter was ejected before halftime for disputing a goaltending no-call on Kel’el Ware, the Magic were left with only one player (Caldwell-Pope) who started their season opener at Miami.
READ: NBA Cup: Bucks beat Magic, return to semifinal in Las Vegas
Key moment
Despite having to look to their bench, the Magic erased a 22-point deficit and took the lead on a short jumper by Caldwell-Pope with 2:41 remaining.
Key stat
The Heat made eight of their first 17 3-points shots before missing 14 of their next 15.
Up next
The Heat host the Brooklyn Nets and the Magic host the Boston Celtics on Monday night.
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