Anthony Black Pops for 20 as Magic Dominate Kings 131-94
anthony black delivered a 20-point performance and helped lead the Magic to a 131-94 victory over the Kings on Thursday. The scoring burst further cements his rise this season and arrives while a regular starter remains sidelined with an ankle issue.
Anthony Black: Development details
Black finished with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three, and added three rebounds, three assists and three steals across 31 minutes in the 131-94 win. This marked the third time in four games that he has reached at least 20 points, and it extended a streak in which he has scored in double figures for 11 straight games. Over that stretch he is averaging 18. 2 points, 3. 9 rebounds, 3. 9 assists, 2. 2 three-pointers, 2. 1 steals and 0. 9 blocks. The club drafted him with the No. 6 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and his recent production has been highlighted as part of what observers are calling a breakout campaign.
Context and escalation
The Magic’s offensive outburst in this contest did not rest on Black alone. Desmond Bane contributed 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, going 3-of-5 from long range and making 2-of-3 free throws, while also recording four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Bane has now scored in double figures in five straight games and has shot better than 64 percent from the field in three consecutive outings. Over his last five games he is averaging 23. 6 points on 58. 4 percent shooting. Together, those performances drove Orlando to a 37-point margin of victory over the Kings.
Roster availability shaped the lineup decisions for this stretch. With Franz Wagner sidelined by an ankle issue, Black has remained in the starting unit and seen steadier playing time, a role that has coincided with his elevated numbers and increased three-point volume.
Immediate impact
The statistical balance in Thursday’s game was stark: the Magic scored 131 points while limiting the Kings to 94, a decisive margin that reflected both efficient shooting and defensive contributions such as Black’s three steals. For Black personally, the 31 minutes on the floor and the 4-for-6 three-point night reinforced his ability to stretch the defense and generate turnovers. For Bane, efficient perimeter shooting and consistent scoring have sustained the team’s offensive output across multiple contests.
Concrete consequences of these performances include a continuing stretch of consistent scoring from key rotation players and a reinforcement of the current starting group while available starters remain out. The winning margin also contextualizes the depth of Orlando’s offensive performance on that night.
Forward outlook
Short-term indicators are clear: Black’s role in the starting lineup is likely to persist while the ankle absence continues. He arrives at an important stretch having scored at least 20 points three times within four games and with a sustained double-digit scoring streak now at 11 games. For Bane, recent efficiency and a five-game double-figure run suggest the scoring burden will continue to be shared.
What makes this notable is how quickly Black has translated extended opportunity into measurable production—20-point outings, improved three-point accuracy and defensive impact—setting a defined expectation for his minutes and responsibilities as the Magic navigate injuries and the remainder of the schedule.
