ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando missed its first 11 shots as the Magic shot an abysmal 22% in the second half as visiting Boston turned a 2-point halftime deficit into a 92-79 win Wednesday.
The Magic went 6 minutes without a point in the third quarter before Wendell Carter Jr. connected on the second of two free throws. The first bucket of the half came at the 5:33 mark when Cole Anthony connected on a 25-footer. It snapped an 0-for-11 streak from the floor by Orlando, which was outscored 31-10 in the quarter.
Any momentum the Magic (2-7) hoped would come from their second win of the season in Minnesota on Monday dissipated in the third quarter.
Carter Jr. finished with a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds while Anthony had 13 points and rookie Jalen Suggs had 10. Mo Bamba fouled out with 3:46 left in the game after getting 5 points and 10 rebounds.
Jaylen Brown was one of four Celtics (3-5) to score in double digits with a team-high 28 points. Al Horford had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds while Jayson Tatum had 14 points.
Anthony had been on a tear, averaging 22.5 points per game over the last six games, including a season-high 31 points on Monday. He had had two double-doubles during that stretch, including a career-high 16 rebounds against New York (Oct. 24).
“A big portion of that is his decision-making,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said before the loss. “He’s working on making the right play and so the shots that he’s taking and getting are the product of trying to make the right play first, and then the shot becomes a byproduct of that because he’s trying to find his teammates early.
“I think his confidence level and his workload level have increased a ton.”
Anthony had led or tied the team in scoring for times, in rebounding three times and in assists six times.
While the Magic were shooting 43% from the floor entering Wednesday’s game, Anthony had been doing his part to heat up things by shooting 51% (46 of 90) from the field during the previous six games. That included 52% (22 of 42) on 3-pointers, including connecting on a season-high 6 3′s during the win over the Timberwolves.
Anthony has evolved as the primary ballhandler for the Magic, which in turn has led to the team scoring more points with Orlando averaging 106.3 points over the last six games. That’s up from the 96.5 points the team averaged through its first two games.
His growth as a floor leader is something that’s impressed his young coach, particularly while working alongside a rookie guard in Jalen Suggs.
“He’s done a really good job of balancing it,” said Mosley. “He talking to guys a lot. He’s vocal in all these things that he’s doing. He’s recognizing things during the game, but he’s also helping Jalen out in some ways, and they’re talking to each other.
“It’s just a high level of communication between those guys of trying to figure out exactly what’s happening during the game.”
Boston coach Ime Udoka said that his team was aware of Anthony’s contributions on the court.
“We understand the impact he has on their winning and losing,” said Udoka, “... It’s what you expect from a young talented guy and when they do win, it’s in large part because of him.”
Orlando began a stretch of five games at Amway Center with Boston before facing San Antonio (Friday), Utah (Sunday), Brooklyn (Nov. 10) and Washington (Nov. 13). The Magic haven’t won at home since defeating the Memphis Grizzlies on May 1.
