Orlando Continues to Comeback

Orlando, FL— After suffering two gut-wrenching losses, a comeback allowed to the Miami Heat, and a blowout loss to the New York Knicks, the Magic overcame a 21-point deficit and beat the Brooklyn Nets 102-101 this afternoon after another incredible comeback win.

After trailing for the majority of the game until the final moments, the Magic stormed back late in the fourth quarter using a 22-4 run to fuel their comeback. Rookie Tristan da Silva had 13 points in the fourth quarter and Cole Anthony’s bank shot off the window with 1.1 seconds left propelled this team to victory.

Nets Trade Details

Just hours before tipoff the Nets made headlines with a trade sending Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks as it was first reported by Shams of ESPN.

This would be Brooklyn’s second trade in the last three weeks as they had just shipped off Dennis Schroder and a 2025 second-round pick to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for De’Anthony Melton and three-second round picks.

Nets Head Coach Jordi Fernandez spoke to the media pregame about the challenges of mixing lineups with players in and out of the lineup.

“Yeah, it’s the nature of the business. I can control what I can control. And right now those things are not in my hands. So everything I can do is be positive and demand one thing, which is focus and competitiveness. And the guys, for the most part, have done a great job and we cannot have the excuse like, ‘We have guys out.’ Because if any of my guys think that way, that person is telling me that he’s not good enough to play for us. And everybody who’s gonna wear our jersey is gonna go out there and try to win a game.”

Injuries Plague the Nets and Magic

A lengthy injury report for Brooklyn as they would be without Bojan Bogdanovic (foot), De’Anthony Melton (knee), Ziaire Williams (knee), Trendon Watford (hamstring), and of course both Dorian Finney-Smith (not with the team), and Shake Milton (not with the team). On a positive note for Brooklyn, the Nets got Cam Thomas (hamstring) back in the lineup who had missed the last four weeks of play and was available this afternoon on a minutes restriction.

Orlando would be without guard Anthony Black (back spasms) who was ruled out as a late scratch before tipoff. The Magic would also continue to miss Paolo Banchero (return to competition conditioning), Franz Wagner (oblique), Moe Wagner (knee), and Mac McClung (Two-Way).

“It says that we are enough and that we have enough, no matter who’s on the floor,” Jamahl Mosley on dealing with injuries and rotating lineups. “You’re gonna be in the locker room supporting your brother on the court…fight for them, and we’re gonna scrap until that final horn goes off.”

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for both teams, they did. For the Magic Jalen Suggs (right wrist sprain) would miss the entirety of the second half, and Nets forward Cam Johnson (hip) was ruled out for the entire fourth quarter.

“He’s still in the locker room,” Mosley on how Suggs is doing. “We’ll get him evaluated tomorrow and kind of go from there.”

Orlando, who committed 11 turnovers in the first half led to 15 Brooklyn points as the Magic got off to a sluggish start in this game. Despite scoring just 43 points and allowing the Nets to score 61 points at halftime the Magic wouldn’t get discouraged as they stormed back in the second half.

Anthony and da Silva Lift Magic Late

The Magic trailed by as much as 21 points before cutting the deficit to 15 points heading into the final period of play. It was a total team effort as the Magic had everyone step up in the scoring department in the fourth quarter from Tristan da Silva (13), Caleb Houstan (9), and Cole Anthony (5). Orlando would close out the game in thrilling fashion with that 22-4 run and get back in the win column.

“It means everything to me,” Tristan da Silva said on being trusted down the stretch. “I kind of caught the hot hand late down the stretch, and they kept putting the ball in my hand and I was just tryna make the right plays.”

Cole Anthony didn’t appear in the game until the beginning of the third quarter, and although he wasn’t perfect he made the necessary plays down the stretch.

“Everybody that wears this Orlando Magic uniform currently puts the work in,” Cole Anthony on the team’s late rally. “It’s not a question about anyone’s ability, it’s just a matter of opportunity — I ain’t play great, but I did something alright. That shot was definitely cool.”

“It speaks so much to the resiliency of our guys, the grit of our guys, the preparation of the coaching staff,” Mosley on how the team was tested tonight. “Keeping guys that have not played ready to go, knowing that they can light a spark at any moment — And that’s what these guys did tonight. Very, very, very proud of these guys for how they continue to fight and scrap no matter what.”

Final Numbers and Performances

Tristan da Silva finished with a career-high 21 points while adding seven assists, and six rebounds. Goga Bitadze recorded 19 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and a block. Wendell Carter Jr added 13 points and six rebounds as he got the nod in the starting lineup this afternoon.

For Brooklyn in Cam Thomas’ return to the court, he torched the Magic finishing with a game-high 25 points off the bench chipping in six rebounds and six assists each.

Winning by Committee

Over the last week of play, Jamhal Mosley has continued to have his group ready to play and overcome adversity at all costs. Just this week alone the Magic have come back and won games versus the Boston Celtics (15), Miami Heat (25 points), and now the Brooklyn Nets (21 points).

“Coach of the year,” Cole Anthony on Jamahl Mosley. “He came in from day one and set a standard for this team — He’s done such a great job of keeping everybody ready, everybody motivated. Shoot, me and him had a whole kumbaya moment today.”

Orlando continue to defy the odds and surpass all expectations while being depleted with injuries. The Magic will embark on a two-game road trip at Detroit and Toronto before coming back home again next Sunday to play host to the Utah Jazz.