Cole Anthony on Magic's 3-Game Losing Streak: 'We've Got To Grow Up'
ORLANDO - The ups and downs of the season are beginning to take its toll on the Orlando Magic.
After going on a nine-game winning streak, Orlando is on a three-game losing streak after a 115-106 loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday at the Kia Center and have lost five of its last seven games.
The loss also snapped a nine-game winning streak at home. Amid its first slump of the season, Magic guard Cole Anthony said the team needs to improve and find a middle ground.
Cole Anthony driving past Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton.
Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
"We've got to grow up as a unit," Anthony said. "We had a run for a while, we're going through a rough patch right now. We've got to be consistent. We can't get too high, get too low. We've got to be better and stronger emotionally."
Anthony led Orlando (16-10) with 20 points off the bench. Forward Franz Wagner had 15 points plus six rebounds and five assists. Wendell Carter Jr. returned after missing 20 games with a broken left hand and had eight points and five rebounds in 23 minutes.
Tyler Herro, who was one of seven players on the Heat (16-12) to score in double-figures, led the Heat with 28 points, and he had eight rebounds plus seven assists. Center Bam Adebayo had 18 points, and Highsmith had 15.
The Heat were without forwards Jimmy Butler (calf) and Kevin Love (illness). Joe Ingles was out for the Magic with a sprained ankle.
The game got away from Orlando in the second quarter, as it was outscored by Miami 43-26. The Heat closed out the quarter on a 30-12 run, including a run of 17 straight points to go into halftime up 68-50. The Heat made eight 3s in the quarter, with forward Haywood Highsmith making four and guard Josh Richardson making two. Miami's 43 points is the most Orlando has allowed in a quarter this season.
Miami shot 15-29 from 3, while Orlando shot 9-36 from beyond the arc.
"They kept making us pay for every bad closeout," Anthony said. "Whatever mistake we made on the defensive end, they took advantage of that and were able to jump out to that lead."
Orlando makes a quick turnaround as they head to the Fiserv Forum to face the Milwaukee Bucks (20-7) on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in the first of a three-game road trip.
"There's never a benefit to having a back-to-back," Anthony said. "It's very taxing, but it's a good chance for us to redeem ourselves. It makes us have to shake this nasty game off and go prepare for another game in less than 24 hours."
