Bane’s 37 Sparks Magic Comeback Win Over Heat in NBA Cup Thriller
So this NBA Cup matchup between the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat turned into one of those nights where everything flipped before anyone had time to settle in. The Heat came out absolutely blazing, jumping to a 15–0 start as if they were about to run away with the whole thing. But as we’ve seen countless times in the league, a fast start doesn’t always guarantee an easy finish. And that was exactly the case here.
The Magic were struggling early, especially with Desmond Bane starting slowly and scoring just two points in the first quarter. But the energy shifted in the second quarter when Bane suddenly locked in. It felt like a switch had been flipped. Shots that weren’t falling earlier were now dropping cleanly, and he caught a rhythm that changed the entire tempo of the game. Orlando erased the deficit and even grabbed their first lead at 47–46 right before halftime, which was something almost unthinkable after the disastrous opening minutes.
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From that point on, Orlando controlled the flow. By the fourth quarter, the Magic were dictating every possession and eventually closed out a strong 117–108 victory to punch their ticket to the NBA Cup semifinals. Bane finished with a monstrous 37 points — and what’s crazy is that it was his third 37-point game in just his last six outings. He added 6 rebounds and 5 assists, and did it while shooting efficiency you just don’t see every night: 14-of-24 from the field and 6-of-9 from deep. His second quarter alone, where he dropped 10 and sparked the rally, completely reshaped the momentum.
What makes this run from Bane even more important is how banged up the Magic have been. Paolo Banchero just returned after missing 10 games due to a groin strain, and even though he’s still easing in, he gave them 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. On the flip side, Franz Wagner is now out with a high-ankle sprain, leaving a significant gap in their lineup. So Bane has basically become the engine keeping Orlando steady in this stretch — and he’s embracing it.
The win pushed the Magic to a 15–10 record, solid enough for fourth in the East at the time. It also moved them one step closer to a potential Cup title. And remember, the stakes in this tournament aren’t just about pride — there’s real money on the line. With this semifinal berth, every full-time Magic player secured a $106,187 bonus, with the chance to earn over half a million dollars if they go all the way.
Now the Magic wait for the winner of Knicks vs. Raptors. But one thing is clear: if Desmond Bane keeps playing at this level, Orlando will remain a serious threat in the NBA Cup.
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