Cole Anthony sinks game-winner as Magic rally past Timberwolves to end skid

Cole Anthony beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer to lift the Orlando Magic to a 97-96 win over to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center Wednesday night to snap a six-game losing streak.

With Minnesota leading by two, Jarred Vanderbilt missed two free throws. The ball came to Anthony, who sped up the floor, pulled up and fired a shot over Malik Beasley in front of the Magic bench.

Anthony, who made a 3-pointer that cut the lead to two moments earlier, had just checked back into the game with 1:24 left to play after Terrence Ross fouled out.

Nikola Vucevic finished with 28 points for Orlando (7-8).

Shooting guard Evan Fournier made an impact in his return to the starting lineup after missing nine straight games because of low back spasms.

Fournier finished with 24 points.

Anthony and Aaron Gordon each scored 13 points for the Magic, who trailed by 20 early in the third quarter.

D’Angelo Russell scored 19 points to lead the Timberwolves (3-10), which blocked a season-high 12 shots.

Russell and Beasley combined for seven of the Timberwolves’ 15 3-pointers as they outscored the Magic 45-30 from behind the arc. Orlando was just 10 of 31 (32.3%) from the 3-point line – but got arguably the biggest 3 of the game from Anthony.

After a successful coach’s challenge overturned a foul on Vucevic, Fournier sank a 3 to make it 91-86. After a Russell miss, Gordon hit a 3. It was 96-91 when James Ennis found Anthony for a wide-open 3-pointer from the wing to make it 96-94.

Gordon then rebounded a Beasley miss with 16.4 seconds left.

But Gordon missed a wide-open 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left, and Vanderbilt rebounded. Anthony quickly fouled, and Vanderbilt missed the ensuing free throws, leading to Anthony’s heroics.

The Magic will close out their five-game road trip Friday in Indianapolis against the Pacers. The game tips off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Florida.

This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Roy Parry at rparry@orlandosentinel.com