Magic's Mosley stunned after epic 4th-quarter comeback: Never seen that
The Orlando Magic pulled off an improbable 22-point fourth-quarter comeback Saturday night, beating their in-state rival, the Miami Heat, 121-114.
"You can't really explain that," Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said after his team matched its biggest comeback win in franchise history, according to The Athletic's Josh Robbins. "I have not seen that ever in my years in the league: the ability to stay with it despite all of the circumstances that started in the beginning of the game."
The Magic were dealing with an extensive injury list heading into the contest: All-Star Paolo Banchero and forward Franz Wagner are both out with oblique injuries, All-Defensive guard Jalen Suggs was unavailable with an ankle sprain, and veteran backup guard Gary Harris missed out with a hamstring strain.
To make matters worse, center Moritz Wagner tore his ACL after sustaining a noncontact knee injury in the first quarter. He will undergo surgery and is set to miss the rest of the season. The German is having the best year of his career, averaging 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 56.2% from the field and 36% from deep.
The Magic relied on some unexpected faces to dig themselves out of their sizeable hole. Backup guard Cole Anthony poured in 27 of his game-high 35 points in the second half.
"It just felt so good to feel like I was a part of winning, to feel like I was contributing to something. ... I'm so happy for this team, man," Anthony said.
Orlando center Goga Bitadze posted his 10th double-double of the campaign. The Georgian had recorded 10 total career double-doubles heading into the season.
Two-way wing Trevelin Queen recorded a season-high seven points, while veteran point guard Cory Joseph played the entire fourth quarter.
"I'm just blessed to be a part of something amazing," Queen said, per Robbins.
Teams leading by at least 22 points entering the fourth quarter had gone 796-0 since Dec. 22, 2019, according to The Associated Press' Tim Reynolds.
The Magic trailed by as many as 25 points in the contest and outscored Miami by 29 in the final frame - the seventh-largest fourth-quarter differential in NBA history.
The Magic improved to 18-12 after the improbable win. They'll take on the Boston Celtics on Monday.