Black finished Tuesday's 120-95 Play-In Game win over the Hawks with 16 points (6-7 FG, 3-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four assists, four rebounds and two blocks over 28 minutes.
Black ended the regular season strongly with back-to-back 20-point outings, and that momentum carried into Tuesday's contest when he connected on all but one of his shots while finishing with a game-high plus-34 point differential. Even though he didn't start, Black ended up playing more minutes than starter Cory Joseph (18) and fellow reserve Cole Anthony (20). With the win, the Magic will enter the postseason as the seventh seed in the East and face the defending-champion Celtics in the first round.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Reverts back to bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Black won't start in Tuesday's Play-In Game against the Hawks, Mason Williams of SI.com reports.
The 21-year-old guard will retreat to the second unit due to Cory Joseph (knee) returning to game action. Black has averaged 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks across 26.5 minutes per game in his last 10 outings (one start).
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Magic's Anthony Black: Productive in increased role
Rotowire
Black supplied 21 points (9-16 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-3 FT), six rebounds, seven assists and two steals over 31 minutes during Friday's 129-115 win over Indiana.
Black scored at least 20 points for just the sixth time this season, turning in one of his better all-around performances. The Magic were without their regular starters, affording Black an opportunity to play at least 30 minutes for the second straight game. Despite the season-ending knee injury to Jalen Suggs, Black has been somewhat of a letdown, even in an increased role. Over his past 26 games, Black is averaging just 9.7 points and 1.2 steals in 22.3 minutes per game.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Records two blocks
Rotowire
Black provided six points (3-10 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 0-1 FT), three rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal across 23 minutes during Thursday's 109-97 win over the Wizards.
With the Magic close to full strength, Black's fantasy appeal is quite limited on the offensive side of things. He's been terrific on the defensive end, however, as he now has a total of six blocks and eight steals over his last five games.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Scores 14 points off bench
Rotowire
Black produced 14 points (5-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, three assists and two blocks over 26 minutes during Thursday's 101-92 loss to the Mavericks.
With Cole Anthony (toe) sidelined, Black has been a reliable scoring weapon off the bench for the Magic in recent weeks. He's posted double-digit points in five of his previous six appearances while dishing out multiple assists five times. Over that six-game stretch, Black averaged 14.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 blocks per contest.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Scores 20 points off bench
Rotowire
Black recorded 20 points (8-18 FG, 2-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, two blocks and one steal over 30 minutes during Tuesday's 111-104 victory over the Hornets.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner led the way for the Magic in this one, but Orlando wouldn't have been able to come away with the win hadn't Black been as good as he was coming off the bench. The lack of consistency on a game-to-game basis has been Black's biggest knock in recent outings, but he seems to be trending toward the right path of late. He's scored in double digits in four of his last five appearances, averaging 14.8 points per game and shooting 57.1 percent from the floor in that stretch.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Impresses off bench in win
Rotowire
Black amassed 17 points (7-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt), six assists, five rebounds, one block and one steal across 30 minutes during Monday's 118-106 win over the Lakers.
Black led the second unit in scoring during an extremely efficient outing Monday. The 21-year-old struggled over his first seven appearances in March, during which he had averaged only 6.6 points while shooting 35.9 percent from the field. However, Black has scored in double figures in three of his last four appearances, averaging 13.5 points while shooting 64.5 percent from the field. The second-year combo guard has also recorded six assists in back-to-back games.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Solid stat line coming off bench
Rotowire
Black chipped in 13 points (5-7 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, six assists and one block over 26 minutes during Friday's 120-105 win over Washington.
Black has struggled with consistency this season, and this was just the fifth time he scored in double digits coming off the bench across his 15 appearances since the All-Star break. The former Arkansas standout has carved out a solid role in the rotation as the backup point guard for the Magic, but the inconsistency he shows on a game-to-game basis limits his upside considerably, even if he delivers solid outings like Friday's from time to time.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Shines off bench Sunday
Rotowire
Black ended Sunday's 110-90 win over Washington with 23 points (7-12 FG, 4-5 3Pt, 5-5 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal in 27 minutes.
Black carried the Magic in scoring and played a pivotal role in the win with a solid showing, particularly with his shooting from beyond the arc. This 23-point output matched his previous season-high mark, established in a Dec. 19 loss to the Thunder, and it was the fourth time he scored in double digits off the bench in his last six outings. Black is averaging 10.4 points per game while shooting 44 percent from deep since the beginning of February.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Four dimes in Rising Stars event
Rotowire
Black registered four points (2-5 FG) and four assists over 8:16 of court time in Team T's 40-34 loss to Team C.
Black tied Team C's Stephon Castle and Dalton Knecht in assists in Friday's semifinal. Black's efforts weren't enough for Team T to advance to the Rising Stars final for a shot at a spot in Sunday's All-Star event. Black entered the All-Star break having scored at least 15 points in three of his last five outings, and he's had a larger role for the Magic due to the recent absence of Jalen Suggs (quadriceps). Black and the Magic will hit the road for their first game after the break against the Hawks on Thursday, Feb. 20.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Back in starting five Monday
Rotowire
Black will start in Monday's matchup against the Heat, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
With Jalen Suggs sidelined due to a left quad contusion, Black will step back into the starting lineup. The 21-year-old has started in five outings this season, during which he has averaged 11.0 points, 3.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 28.4 minutes per contest.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Goes unused Sunday
Rotowire
Black (back) was active but didn't play during Sunday's 105-92 loss to Utah. "We're going to have to look at some more time, some more pregame reps to be able to look at it the right way," head coach Jamahl Mosley told Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel after the game, when asked about the condition of Black's back.
Black ended up missing his fourth straight game with a low back contusion, and with Jalen Suggs (back) also sidelined, the Magic relied heavily on Cole Anthony (28 minutes), Trevelin Queen (25 minutes) and Cory Joseph (15 minutes) as their primary facilitators. The Magic may have been looking to preserve Black for the second leg of the back-to-back set Monday in New York, but the second-year guard should still be viewed as questionable for that contest, given Mosley's comments.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Will play against Utah
Rotowire
Black (back) is available for Sunday's game against the Jazz.
Black will return Sunday from a four-game absence due to a back contusion. He'll likely be inserted into the starting lineup due to Jalen Suggs (back) and Gary Harris (hamstring) being ruled out. In the 10 games prior to his injury, Black averaged 9.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.9 steals over 24.2 minutes per contest.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Iffy for Sunday
Rotowire
Black (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Jazz.
Black is in danger of missing his fourth straight contest Sunday due to a back contusion. With Jalen Suggs (back) and Gary Harris (hamstring) already ruled out against Utah, Cole Anthony and Cory Joseph could receive increased playing time.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Won't play against Toronto
Rotowire
Black (back) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Raptors, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Black will miss a third straight game due to a back injury, and his next opportunity to play will be against the Jazz on Sunday. Gary Harris, Jett Howard, Trevelin Queen and Caleb Houstan will continue to see extended playing time off the bench for as long as Black is sidelined.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Won't play Wednesday
Rotowire
Black (back) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Pistons.
Black didn't practice Tuesday and will miss a second straight game due to back spasms. On Sunday, Wendell Carter moved into the starting lineup in Black's absence. Black's next chance to suit up will come Friday in Toronto.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Iffy for Wednesday
Rotowire
Black (back) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Pistons.
Black missed Sunday's win over the Nets due to back spasms and didn't practice Tuesday, so his questionable tag seems more like doubtful. If Black misses again, Cole Anthony and Gary Harris would be candidates for increased roles.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Misses practice Tuesday
Rotowire
Black (back) did not practice Tuesday, Dan Savage of the Magic's official site reports.
Black missed his first outing of the season due to back spasms Sunday against the Nets, and his inability to practice Tuesday doesn't bode well for his status against the Pistons on Wednesday. The good news for Orlando is that Jalen Suggs was able to practice Tuesday after being diagnosed with a wrist sprain that he suffered against the Nets.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Sidelined Sunday
Rotowire
Black (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Nets.
Black will miss his first outing of the season due to back spasms. With the 20-year-old sidelined, Trevelin Queen and Cole Anthony are candidates for increased roles. Black's next chance to feature will come Wednesday against the Pistons.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Questionable Sunday
Rotowire
Black (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Nets.
Black is questionable for Sunday's contest due to back spasms. The 20-year-old has carved out a significant role in the Magic's rotation this year, and if he is sidelined, Trevelin Queen and Cole Anthony are candidates for increased roles.
