Teary-eyed and speechless during the walk-off interview accompanying December 21, 2024’s storybook win, Cole Anthony, understandably, allowed 18,080 mesmerized fans — as well as his own second-half highlight reel — to speak on his behalf. Unlimited in the amount of injured teammates he could’ve paid tribute to during the Orlando Magic’s 25-point come-from-behind win, Anthony paid respects in the best possible way: a career-best performance. Moonlighting between facilitator and fire-breathing bucket-getter, Anthony fed the imagination with powerful dunks, crafty around-the-rim finishes, and 3-point splashes, with each deficit-trimming score seemingly prompting additional euphoria from the Kia Center crowd. Teams were a whopping 0-796 when entering the final quarter behind by 22+ points; in what tied for Orlando’s biggest comeback win, Anthony captained the ship through uncharted waters, producing a 27-point avalanche in the second half. Reaffirming Orlando’s ability to compete with anyone, even whilst being snakebitten, Anthony overwhelmed the in-state rival Miami Heat, pairing his 35-point showcase (on 13-of-25 shooting) with an eight-rebound, nine-assist, one-steal, one-block, two-triple complement. · Dec 22, 2024