Despite Late Rally, Magic Come Up Short Against Suns

The Lead

Wendell Carter Jr. posted 20 points and 12 rebounds in his return from a two-game absence and Cole Anthony scored seven of his 11 points down the stretch, but the Orlando Magic, despite erasing a 15-point second-half deficit, were unable to ward off the Phoenix Suns in Tuesday’s 102-99 loss at Amway Center.

Clutch Moments

Deandre Ayton had the game’s two most significant buckets. The first was a go-ahead putback with 1:31 left off a Jae Crowder missed 3-pointer. The other, which put Phoenix up three, was a short jumper in the lane off a dish from Cameron Payne with 12.7 seconds remaining. Franz Wagner’s potential game-tying 3-point attempt in the final seconds was blocked by Mikal…