Magic 128, Pelicans 118: Anthony Black posts 47.5 fantasy points
Kwame Asante
Junior Accountant · Oklahoma City Thunder fan
Anthony Black Finally Arrives, but Orlando's Depth Chart Just Got Messy
Right, so Anthony Black just put up 47.5 Yahoo points on a 15.8 PPG average. That's not a typo. The Magic's point guard went absolutely nuclear with 26/5/7/3 shooting 9-10 from the field, and suddenly everyone's wondering if this is the real Black or a one-game wonder. Here's the thing though, the entire Magic bench outperformed expectations, and that's either a sign of a team finding rhythm or a massive red flag about their starter rotation being completely unstable.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Black | 47.5 | 26/5/7/3 | 15.8/4.1/4.0 | +10.2 pts |
| Paolo Banchero | 46.6 | 23/8/8/1 | 21.1/8.8/4.9 | +1.9 pts |
| Goga Bitadze | 46.1 | 14/13/1/3 | 6.1/5.3/1.3 | +7.9 pts |
| Desmond Bane | 42.0 | 27/5/4/2 | 19.0/4.5/4.5 | +8.0 pts |
| Trey Murphy III | 35.4 | 21/7/6/0 | 22.2/6.2/3.6 | -1.2 pts |
| Zion Williamson | 38.1 | 22/3/3/2 | 22.6/5.8/3.5 | -0.6 pts |
The Winners
Anthony Black just terrorized the Pelicans with 47.5 Yahoo points, crushing his season average by 10.2 points. 9-10 shooting is absurd efficiency, and he took 7 assists to go with it. The question isn't whether Black can score, it's whether this was Orlando unlocking something or New Orleans just playing sloppy defense. Thirty-six minutes suggests the Magic trusted him completely. Worth monitoring, but don't panic sell if you've got him.
Goga Bitadze was genuinely excellent. 14/13/1/3 with two blocks in 32 minutes is +7.9 above his norm. He went 7-10 from the field, didn't touch the free throw line, and completely dominated the glass. This is the kind of outing that makes you wonder why he's not getting more run. For a guy averaging 6.1 PPG, this is legitimately sustainable production if the minutes keep flowing. Wendell Carter Jr. didn't play, so there's your opportunity.
Desmond Bane stayed hot with 27 points on 9-18 shooting, +8.0 above his season average. He's been a quiet value pick all season, and tonight he proved why. The 8-8 from the line was clutch, and his 4 assists on top of the scoring makes him a dual-threat option you should absolutely be targeting in trades.
The Letdowns
Trey Murphy III put up solid numbers on paper (21/7/6), but that's -1.2 below his average. For someone who's supposed to be a star in this Pelicans rotation, this felt underwhelming. He shot 8-15, which is fine, but New Orleans needed more from him when Zion was stuck at 3 rebounds in 31 minutes. No major panic yet, but monitor his role if the team keeps losing.
The bigger issue? Zion Williamson went full disappearing act on the glass. 22/3/3 is functional scoring, but -2.8 on rebounds is a massive issue for a guy built like a wrecking machine. Only 31 minutes played too. That's either load management or the Pelicans are shifting his usage, neither of which is ideal for fantasy managers counting on him for volume.
The Trends
Here's what matters: The Magic deployed Anthony Black for 36 minutes while several key rotation players sat completely. Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr.—all DNP. That's not normal. Either they're dealing with issues we don't know about yet, or Orlando's making aggressive rotation calls. Goga Bitadze grabbed 13 boards in 32 minutes, which suggests they're desperate for rebounding help.
On the Pelicans side, Jose Alvarado got completely benched (0 minutes), which is wild for a depth guy. Jordan Poole came off the bench and actually contributed (21 points on 7-11 shooting), so the rotation is definitely fluid.
The Moves
Add: Goga Bitadze immediately. If Wendell Carter Jr. stays out, you're looking at a 13-rebound night from a dude averaging 5.3. That's not fluky, that's opportunity. Forty percent ownership means the league hasn't figured this out yet.
Trade for Desmond Bane if you can. He's at 95% ownership, which means most people already have him, but if you're in a league where someone panicked after a slow start, buy low now. He's hitting 27 PPG on volume with a legitimate assist game.
Avoid overpaying for Anthony Black. Yes, 47.5 Yahoo points is incredible, but +10.2 above average suggests this was efficient shooting in a good matchup. Don't trade your 2024 first for him thinking he's suddenly a 25 PPG scorer. Pump the brakes.
Next Up
Orlando needs to clarify their rotation. Are they resting key guys, or is there an injury situation brewing? Anthony Black's massive game is only meaningful if he's getting consistent 30+ minute opportunities. The Pelicans need to figure out why their stars underperformed. Zion at 3 rebounds is unacceptable, and Trey Murphy at -1.2 below average means the offense might be too isolation-heavy. Watch the next two games closely for both teams.