Orlando Magic, decimated by injuries, stun Miami Heat with fourth quarter comeback

ORLANDO, Fla. – When the final horn sounded and the Orlando Magic had pulled off perhaps the most remarkable comeback in team history, Cole Anthony could only spread his arms and take in the roar of the Kia Center.

His team, already playing without Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, had lost backup center Moe Wagner to an apparent knee injury. But the Magic, led by Anthony’s 35 points, erased a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter and stunned the Miami Heat 121-114.

The comeback from a 25-point deficit is synonymous with the greatest comeback victory in franchise history.

The unlikely win caused the Magic to lose three games and improve to 2-0 against their South Florida rivals and 18-12 overall this season.

When these two teams took on the Magic 116-97 in the season opener, Orlando’s squad was playing with a clean bill of health.

On that October night, the Magic combined for 85 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists from Banchero, Franz Wagner, Suggs and Gary Harris.

None of those players were available Saturday night. Banchero and Wagner are out indefinitely with torn oblique muscles. Harris missed 11 games with a hamstring injury. Suggs sat out this game with a sprained ankle.

And then a bad situation got much worse:

In addition to Anthony’s 35 points (two shy of his career high), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (24), Goga Bitadze (18) and Black (10) joined him in double figures.

The Magic host the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics on Monday, December 23rd for their final game before Christmas. Tipping occurs at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Kia Center.

Consequences ‘Orlando Magic on SI‘ on Facebook and like our page. Follow Magic Beat reporter Mason Williams on Twitter/X @mvsonwilliams. Also bookmark ours Homepage This way you never miss a story.