Cole Anthony hit a hurried 3-pointer at the buzzer and the Orlando Magic stunned the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-96 on Wednesday night to stop a six-game losing streak.
Nikola Vucevic had 28 points and eight rebounds for Orlando. Evan Fournier added 24 points in his return to the lineup after missing nine games with lower back spasms.
Click to Gallery
Cole Anthony hit a hurried 3-pointer at the buzzer and the Orlando Magic stunned the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-96 on Wednesday night to stop a six-game losing streak.
D’Angelo Russell scored 19 points and Michael Beasley added 13 for the short-handed Timberwolves, who were without Karl-Anthony Towns, Ricky Rubio and Juancho Hernangomez as part of the NBA's health and safety protocols.
Starting the day, the Timberwolves were 26th in the league in offensive rating and the Magic were 28th.
The Magic twice closed within two in the final 1:24 on 3s by Aaron Gordon and Anthony, but Gordon missed a wide-open 3 with 7.2 seconds left before Vanderbilt's misses at the line.
Timberwolves: Towns, who announced on social media he tested positive for COVID-19, missed his second straight game. He’s only played in four of the team’s 13 games this season. Rubio and Hernangomez each missed a second game in a row. … Minnesota set a season high with 12 blocks, led by Naz Reid and rookie Jaden McDaniels with three apiece. … The 10 points in the second were the fewest allowed by the Wolves in a quarter this season. … McDaniels, the 28th overall draft pick out of Washington, set career highs with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Timberwolves: Host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday after losing 108-97 in Atlanta on Monday.
Orlando Magic's Khem Birch, left, and Minnesota Timberwolves' Malik Beasley chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)
Minnesota led by 20 before the Magic slowly chipped away in the second half. Jarred Vanderbilt missed a pair of free throws with a chance to ice the game for the Timberwolves. Anthony grabbed the rebound on the final miss, pushed the ball quickly up court and the rookie drained a contested 3 from the right wing to win the game.
Orlando Magic's Cole Anthony, center with extended hand, is mobbed by teammates after his game-winning, 3-point basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ending buzzer of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Minneapolis. The Magic won 97-96. (AP PhotoJim Mone)
D’Angelo Russell scored 19 points and Michael Beasley added 13 for the short-handed Timberwolves, who were without Karl-Anthony Towns, Ricky Rubio and Juancho Hernangomez as part of the NBA's health and safety protocols.
Russell keyed a 24-1 run in the second quarter for Minnesota to take control before Orlando closed late.
Two of the league’s most inefficient offenses looked the part during a sluggish first quarter. Vucevic scored 12 points while Minnesota shot 35% and Orlando led 25-21.
Minnesota Timberwolves' Josh Okogie, center, drives between Orlando Magic's Cole Anthony, left, and Evan Fournier during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)
Starting the day, the Timberwolves were 26th in the league in offensive rating and the Magic were 28th.
Russell started the Wolves’ push early in the second, hitting three 3-pointers during a 16-0 run.
Orlando went scoreless for nearly five minutes and managed just 10 points in the quarter, shooting 3 of 23 from the field.
Orlando Magic's James Ennis III, left, drives as Minnesota Timberwolves' D'Angelo Russell defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)
The Magic twice closed within two in the final 1:24 on 3s by Aaron Gordon and Anthony, but Gordon missed a wide-open 3 with 7.2 seconds left before Vanderbilt's misses at the line.
TIP-INS
Magic: Coach Steve Clifford said Al-Farouq Aminu (right knee surgery) is practicing in non-contact drills, but his return isn’t imminent. Clifford said Michael Carter-Williams (sprained left foot) is closer to returning but didn’t add a timeline for his return. … Vucevic scored 11 points and Fournier added 10 in the third as Orlando made its run.
CORRECTS ORLANDO PLAYER AT LEFT TO NIKOLA VUCEVIC, INSTEAD OF AARON GORDON - Minnesota Timberwolves' Josh Okogie, center, drives between Orlando Magic's Cole Anthony, right, and Nikola Vucevic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)
Timberwolves: Towns, who announced on social media he tested positive for COVID-19, missed his second straight game. He’s only played in four of the team’s 13 games this season. Rubio and Hernangomez each missed a second game in a row. … Minnesota set a season high with 12 blocks, led by Naz Reid and rookie Jaden McDaniels with three apiece. … The 10 points in the second were the fewest allowed by the Wolves in a quarter this season. … McDaniels, the 28th overall draft pick out of Washington, set career highs with 12 points and eight rebounds.
UP NEXT
Magic: Continue their longest road trip of the season Friday at Indiana. The Pacers lost at home to Dallas on Wednesday.
Minnesota Timberwolves' Jaden McDaniels dunks against the Orlando Magic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)
Timberwolves: Host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday after losing 108-97 in Atlanta on Monday.
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Orlando Magic's Khem Birch (24) passes the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves' D'Angelo Russell (0) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)
Orlando Magic's Khem Birch, left, and Minnesota Timberwolves' Malik Beasley chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)