Magic Vs Clippers: magic vs clippers recap as Desmond Bane's 36 lifts Magic to 111-109 at Intuit Center

In the magic vs clippers matchup, the Orlando Magic answered a gut-wrenching loss to Phoenix by escaping the Intuit Center in Southern California with a 111-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The result mattered as a bounce-back win after the double-overtime game against Phoenix.

Magic rally after double-overtime loss to Phoenix produced a 111-109 exit at Intuit Center

Orlando returned from a 34-point double-overtime game against Phoenix and then won 111-109 at the Intuit Center in Southern California. The Magic led by four entering the first half before the teams played out a two-point nailbiter to finish the night.

Desmond Bane carried the offense with 36 points and elite shooting splits

Magic guard Desmond Bane stepped in as the team's primary engine offensively, scoring a team-high 36 points on 13-of-19 shooting. The 27-year-old came into the matchup fresh off a 34-point outing in double overtime against Phoenix and followed it with an uncharacteristic 6-of-10 performance from the free-throw line despite being a 92. 8 percent foul shooter on the season.

Bane's 3-point hot streak continued: 4-of-6 in the game and 20-of-35 over five games

Over his previous five games Bane was 20-of-35 from deep, and in this contest he made 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Those makes lifted his 3-point percentage to 38. 8 on the year and to 43. 7 percent since the turn of the calendar. The coverage noted the rhetorical question: "Where would they currently be without the 27-year-old? They wouldn't be in a more favorable position (in the W-L column), that's for sure. "

Kawhi Leonard counterpunched: 37 points and a dominant second half for the Clippers

Though Orlando escaped with the win, Kawhi Leonard counterpunched throughout the night. Leonard tallied a game-high 37 points with eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. He scored 25 points in the second half, including 18 in the third quarter alone, keeping the Clippers within striking distance late.

Clippers struggled from deep despite Leonard's effort, early 1-of-11 and 5-of-23 final mark

The Clippers were just 1-of-11 from deep entering the first half and finished the night 5-of-23 from beyond the arc. Observers noted Leonard didn't quite feel fully awake offensively early on, even as he remained very impactful and repeatedly got to his spots, routinely rising over Magic defenders to score.

Those combined narratives—Bane's continued scoring and 3-point accuracy, Orlando's response after Phoenix, and Leonard's late surge despite poor team three-point shooting—shaped a tightly contested game that finished 111-109 at the Intuit Center.