Despite The Orlando Magic’s six-game winning streak ends In a 104-93 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, Anthony Black continues to impress in his expanded role off the bench. In his second season, Black has embraced the challenges of his “learning” process with the second unit, showing flashes of brilliance while navigating growing pains.

Black struggled in the first half against the Clippers, recording six points on 1-for-4 shooting and committing five turnovers. But he bounced back in the second half to finish with a team-high 17 points, eight assists and one block while shooting an efficient five-for-10 from the field. His performance underlined his resilience and adaptability in difficult situations.

The Magic, who continue to be without Paolo Banchero due to a torn right oblique, has relied on Black to step up in his absence. The additional responsibility has given black more opportunities to contribute as a playmaker and scorer.

Anthony Black, Jamahl Mosley highlights confidence and growth in learning processes

Black credited head coach Jamahl Mosley and his teammates for trusting him through the ups and downs of his development.

“That’s it… It allows all players to play for free, with teammates and coaches trusting them,” Black said after the game. “I mean it just allows me to go out there and just play. Definitely grateful for that, that it is what it is.”

Black acknowledged the importance of his role in the second unit and emphasized his commitment to improvement.

“I’m just growing step by step again, they’re trusting me… I definitely need to do a better job of taking care of the ball but it’s just a learning process so we’ll come back and look at it and try to go from there,” said Black.

Mosley praised Black’s ability to adjust and make an impact despite a challenging game against a physical Clippers defense.

“Just continued growth with him, his ability to be aggressive and the right kind of aggressive,” Mosley said. “You have to give the Clippers credit and their ability to sweep, grab, hold, hit the basketball. They did a phenomenal job of taking some things away. . . . A big part of that is Anthony Black being able to grow — we’ll see, I mean he did some great things tonight defensively. He was in the passing lane, the gap, had a couple steals, just kept finding his space in the lane.”

Black’s impact shines as the Magic aim to finish the road trip strong against the Lakers

Black’s outstanding play extends beyond Wednesday night. Earlier on the road trip, he posted a season-high 20 points, nine assists and four steals in the Magic wins over Phoenix Suns on Monday. His consistent production has been crucial for Orlando as the team navigates a demanding schedule.

The Magic, now 9-7 on the season, will remain in Los Angeles for the final game of their three-game road trip against the Lakers. The Lakers, currently 10-4, are riding a six-game winning streak and pose another tough challenge for Orlando.

Black’s ability to adapt and contribute under pressure has been a bright spot for the Magic as they aim to end their road trip on a high note. His development, both as a scorer and playmaker, is a key factor in the team’s success, especially in Banchero’s absence.

As the Magic prepare for Thursday night’s matchup at Crypto.com Arena, Black and the second unit will look to build on the lessons learned from their loss to the Clippers. With the support of Mosley and the team, Black continues to thrive, making every match an opportunity for growth.