Anthony, who has grown into the ace of Orlando's bench, says, “Our game starts with defense.”

The Orlando bench, led by Anthony, is not as weak as other teams.

The Orlando Magic won 112-92 against the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023-2024 NBA regular season at the Kia Center in Orlando on the 20th (Korea time) to move up to fifth with a four-game winning streak.

Orlando is making a splash this season. It's the result of a combination of solid defense and the energy of young players.

The game was the same for Charlotte. They overwhelmed their opponents with strong pressure and energy levels. By the end of the first quarter, the score was 27-17.

When Orlando gained momentum, he went one step further. He displayed stronger defense in the second quarter. He only gave up 15 points in the second quarter. Rather, Cole Anthony (188 cm·G) had a big attack. As always, he made all seven shots off the bench. He drove in 17 points alone. Anthony scored more points than Charlotte in the second quarter.

Entering the third quarter with a 67-32 lead, Orlando stayed focused and kept time to win.

It was a game where the players' strong defense stood out. The player who definitely brought the flow was Anthony. Anthony gave an overall review of the game, saying in a postgame interview, "Our game starts with defense. Good defense leads to good offense. So I always try to focus on defense."

Orlando has many prospects. Anthony is one of them. He has been on the bench since last season and has been adding vitality to the team. This season he has had ups and downs, but he has consistently led the team's bench.

"It doesn't matter whether it's a bench or a starter. I'm just going to come out and do my part," he responded.

Meanwhile, Anthony signed a new three-year, $39 million deal with Orlando this offseason. If no trade is made, he will have to lead a team of young players in Orlando for the time being.

Thanks to Anthony's stellar performance, Orlando has recorded eight wins and two losses in recent 10 games. Based on their performances, Orlando has gained an advantage in the race to rank in the East. It is possible that they will seek not only the playoff but also the top seed. They have a 0.5-game lead over the New York Knicks, who are ranking fourth. Now, Anthony and Orlando are looking higher.
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