Desmond Bane's 36 points and Paolo Banchero's 16 points and 8 assists propelled the Orlando Magic to a hard-fought 111-109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. The victory came just one night after a double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns, with a dramatic buzzer-beater by Jalen Green.
Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Tristan da Silva added 13 points for the Magic, who have now won 5 of their last 7 games. The team's 3-point shooting was less impressive, going 8 for 23 from beyond the arc, compared to their record-breaking 27 3-pointers in their previous game.
Kawhi Leonard, despite an ankle injury, scored 37 points for the Clippers, and Bennedict Mathurin contributed 21 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. Mathurin's 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed the mark, securing the Magic's victory.
Jordan Miller had 14 points for the Clippers, who have struggled since February 2, winning only 4 of their last 9 games. Leonard's ankle sprain from the previous game against the Los Angeles Lakers continued to affect his performance.
The game was close throughout, with Leonard giving the Clippers a 107-105 lead with 3 minutes and 3 seconds remaining. However, the Magic took control, with Bane hitting a crucial layup to tie the score and then another layup with 1:28 left to take the lead. The Magic's fast-break dunk by Banchero with 40 seconds left sealed the victory.
Despite the loss, the Clippers' Mathurin and rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser showed promise, with Mathurin's 25-footer attempt in the final seconds. The Magic's next game is against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, while the Clippers host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
