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After Cole Anthony missed a March 4 contest against the Raptors because of a left big toe strain, the Magic guard averaged nearly 30 minutes the next three games.
He knew, however, he wasn’t healthy.
“I probably played a good four games where it just was already not feeling good,” Anthony said in the locker room Saturday night at Kia Center. “I’d play like half the games and in the second half, I couldn’t run.
“I just tried to will myself out there and the will ain’t work,” he added.
Anthony wasn’t a full participant in practice at New Orleans on March 12 and didn’t play against the Pelicans nor the Timberwolves the next two nights on a road back-to-back.
He tried to give it a go March 16 at Cleveland but was available for just 6 first-half minutes.
Eventually, he came to his senses.
“I was trying to play on it for a while and that didn’t help,” he said. “It was one of those injuries that didn’t really start healing until I fully got off of it. And from that point on, it started the healing process.
“I’ve just been taking my time, trying not to rush it because there’s just no need,” he added. “I already tried to come back once and it was premature.
“I don’t want to do that again.”
He’s since sat out six straight games, including the Magic’s 121-91 home victory Saturday against the Kings. And he still hasn’t done contact work, according to coach Jamahl Mosley.
Fortunately for the Magic, they didn’t need Anthony’s scoring (he averaged 11.6 points on 46.9% shooting from 3 since the All-Star break) or his playmaking ability (3.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds in the same span) when they hosted Sacramento in front of an international TV audience.
Orlando shot 46.2% on 39 attempts from beyond the arc, forced 16 turnovers and received 53 points from its bench in its 30-point triumph.
With the win, the No. 7 Magic (36-39) clinched their spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament and leapfrogged the No. 8 Hawks (35-38) in the East standings.
Holding on to that advantage would allow Orlando to host a Play-In game for a chance to be the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. But there’s work to be done with seven regular-season games still remaining, including two against Atlanta (one at home, the other away).
Nonetheless, the Magic — in a campaign that’s been ravaged by injuries to their top five scorers (including season-ending ones to All-Defensive guard Jalen Suggs and NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate Moe Wagner) — are headed back to the postseason.
“That’s what you work for all season,” forward Paolo Banchero said in the locker room after he notched 20-plus points for the 16th consecutive contest. “We’ve dealt with a lot of injuries and stuff throughout the year so just the fact that we’re able to be in the postseason, I don’t think anyone is taking it for granted.
“Everyone’s excited and we just want to finish these last seven games out strong and put ourselves in the best position heading into the postseason,” he added.
As for Anthony, he believes he’s in a “pretty good spot right now” with his left foot rehab and he hopes to be back on the court “very soon.”
He also realizes how little time is left. The Magic wrap up their 3-game homestand Monday against the Clippers before playing four of last six on the road. The regular season ends April 13 and the Play-In starts two days later.
“That’s the thing, I haven’t wanted to take all this time off,” Anthony said when asked if he feels a time crunch. “But I’ve got to do what’s best for me to be able to be on the court long-term, and so that’s what I’m doing right now.”
In the meantime, he’s watched closely from the bench as Orlando has won four of its past five games to propel itself closer to the top 6 in the East.
“We’re just playing good basketball right now,” Banchero said. “We had a little rough patch, and we were just able to stick through it, figure out what we could do to help ourselves. … And it’s been helping us on all fronts.”
Having full belief in his teammates, Anthony is eager to return.
“We’re still an elite team,” he said. “We have the elite personnel. … We just have to put it all together and get everyone firing at the same time.
“I just can’t wait to get back out there and help everyone out.”
Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]
Magic vs. Clippers
When: 7, Monday, Kia Center
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida
Continue reading...
He knew, however, he wasn’t healthy.
“I probably played a good four games where it just was already not feeling good,” Anthony said in the locker room Saturday night at Kia Center. “I’d play like half the games and in the second half, I couldn’t run.
“I just tried to will myself out there and the will ain’t work,” he added.
Anthony wasn’t a full participant in practice at New Orleans on March 12 and didn’t play against the Pelicans nor the Timberwolves the next two nights on a road back-to-back.
He tried to give it a go March 16 at Cleveland but was available for just 6 first-half minutes.
Eventually, he came to his senses.
“I was trying to play on it for a while and that didn’t help,” he said. “It was one of those injuries that didn’t really start healing until I fully got off of it. And from that point on, it started the healing process.
“I’ve just been taking my time, trying not to rush it because there’s just no need,” he added. “I already tried to come back once and it was premature.
“I don’t want to do that again.”
He’s since sat out six straight games, including the Magic’s 121-91 home victory Saturday against the Kings. And he still hasn’t done contact work, according to coach Jamahl Mosley.
Fortunately for the Magic, they didn’t need Anthony’s scoring (he averaged 11.6 points on 46.9% shooting from 3 since the All-Star break) or his playmaking ability (3.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds in the same span) when they hosted Sacramento in front of an international TV audience.
Orlando shot 46.2% on 39 attempts from beyond the arc, forced 16 turnovers and received 53 points from its bench in its 30-point triumph.
With the win, the No. 7 Magic (36-39) clinched their spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament and leapfrogged the No. 8 Hawks (35-38) in the East standings.
Holding on to that advantage would allow Orlando to host a Play-In game for a chance to be the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. But there’s work to be done with seven regular-season games still remaining, including two against Atlanta (one at home, the other away).
Nonetheless, the Magic — in a campaign that’s been ravaged by injuries to their top five scorers (including season-ending ones to All-Defensive guard Jalen Suggs and NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate Moe Wagner) — are headed back to the postseason.
“That’s what you work for all season,” forward Paolo Banchero said in the locker room after he notched 20-plus points for the 16th consecutive contest. “We’ve dealt with a lot of injuries and stuff throughout the year so just the fact that we’re able to be in the postseason, I don’t think anyone is taking it for granted.
“Everyone’s excited and we just want to finish these last seven games out strong and put ourselves in the best position heading into the postseason,” he added.
As for Anthony, he believes he’s in a “pretty good spot right now” with his left foot rehab and he hopes to be back on the court “very soon.”
He also realizes how little time is left. The Magic wrap up their 3-game homestand Monday against the Clippers before playing four of last six on the road. The regular season ends April 13 and the Play-In starts two days later.
“That’s the thing, I haven’t wanted to take all this time off,” Anthony said when asked if he feels a time crunch. “But I’ve got to do what’s best for me to be able to be on the court long-term, and so that’s what I’m doing right now.”
In the meantime, he’s watched closely from the bench as Orlando has won four of its past five games to propel itself closer to the top 6 in the East.
“We’re just playing good basketball right now,” Banchero said. “We had a little rough patch, and we were just able to stick through it, figure out what we could do to help ourselves. … And it’s been helping us on all fronts.”
Having full belief in his teammates, Anthony is eager to return.
“We’re still an elite team,” he said. “We have the elite personnel. … We just have to put it all together and get everyone firing at the same time.
“I just can’t wait to get back out there and help everyone out.”
Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]
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Magic vs. Clippers
When: 7, Monday, Kia Center
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida
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