Magic Vs Clippers — Bane’s 36 Lifts Magic to 111-109 Win as Kawhi Scores 37 in Tight Finish
In a tightly contested game, magic vs clippers ended 111-109 as the Orlando Magic held on at Intuit Dome. The result mattered for both teams’ recent trajectories: the Magic improved their post-February stretch, while the Clippers extended a down run despite a big scoring night from Kawhi Leonard.
Magic Vs Clippers: Key stat lines and final score
Desmond Bane led the Magic with 36 points. Paolo Banchero finished with 16 points and eight assists. Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Tristan da Silva scored 13 points for Orlando. The Magic won 111-109.
On the Clippers’ side, Kawhi Leonard shrugged off an ankle injury to score 37 points. Bennedict Mathurin added 21 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Jordan Miller had 14 points as the Clippers fell despite the high outputs.
How the decisive sequence unfolded
The game remained tight throughout. Leonard gave the Clippers a 107-105 lead with 3: 03 remaining on a jumper from the top of the key. The Magic answered as Bane hit a jumper to tie the score, then converted a layup with 1: 28 left to put Orlando up 109-107. After the Clippers missed four consecutive shots, Orlando extended the lead to 111-107 on a fast-break dunk from Banchero with 40 seconds left.
With eight seconds remaining, Bane tried to pad the lead but had his shot blocked inside by rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser. Mathurin raced down the floor and launched a 25-footer as time expired that missed, and he had earlier missed a three-point attempt to win the game at the buzzer.
Context: streaks, injuries and roster notes
The Magic improved to 5-2 since Feb. 5. The Clippers are 4-5 since Feb. 2 and sit at 27-30 overall. Leonard had exited Friday’s loss against the Lakers with an ankle sprain but was available and productive in this game. Jalen Suggs missed his second consecutive game for the Magic with back spasms.
Mathurin was playing in his fifth game for the Clippers after he was acquired at the trade deadline from the Indiana Pacers. The sequence of his late-game attempts — a missed three-pointer at the buzzer and a missed 25-footer as time expired — defined the final moments.
Shotmaking and three-point context
Orlando won despite a cold night from deep, going eight of 23 from three-point range. That result came two games after the Magic set a franchise record with 27 three-pointers in a victory at Sacramento, showing a sharp contrast in long-range fortunes across consecutive outings.
Bench impact and rookie moments
Bench production factored heavily. Bennedict Mathurin’s 21 points and nine rebounds off the bench kept the Clippers within striking distance. For Orlando, Tristan da Silva’s 13 points and rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser’s game-altering block on Bane were notable contributions. Wendell Carter Jr. ’s 15 points and 14 rebounds anchored the frontcourt for the Magic.
Digital note: browser compatibility message in separate coverage
Separate coverage carried a message about website experience: a site indicated it was built to take advantage of the latest technology to provide a faster, easier experience and cautioned that some browsers are not supported. The notice suggested downloading an updated browser to ensure the best experience. This article originally appeared in local Los Angeles coverage.
Recent updates indicate the on-court story is the narrow victory for Orlando and the missed late attempts that sealed the result for the Clippers; details may evolve as teams adjust in the coming games.
