The Magic were already facing an uphill battle when they entered Sunday’s game against the Clippers inside Intuit Dome.
Not only was Orlando at a rest disadvantage playing on the second night of a back-to-back at Los Angeles, but Jamahl Mosley‘s squad was also without Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management) and Jalen Suggs (back spasms) for a second game in a row.
But after falling by three points in double overtime Saturday night at Phoenix, the Magic didn’t let any excuse stop them from digging deep late to capture a 111-109 victory over the Clippers on the road.
In a game that was tied 14 times and featured 19 lead changes, baskets from Desmond Bane (36 points) and Paolo Banchero (16) put Orlando ahead by four points late. Kawhi Leonard (game-high 37 points) hit a jumper to bring the Clippers within two, but Bennedict Mathurin (21) missed a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“I’m extremely proud of these guys,” Mosley said after the two-point win. “To come off the loss last night, what we did, the effort we put in, guys playing major minutes, it took the entire group.
“We always talk about ‘by committee,’ but these guys really showed it,” he added. “Everybody contributed and that’s what this group continues to show and will continue to do.”
Los Angeles (27-30) fell to just 11-5 when Leonard scores 30-plus points despite outscoring Orlando 60-54 in the paint.
The Magic (30-26) wrap up their four-game road trip on the West Coast against the Lakers on Tuesday night.
Bane ballin’
Bane capped off a seven-point first quarter by beating the buzzer with a step-back 3-pointer. And he didn’t slow down from there.
He made his first three triples to piece together an 18-point first half after scoring 22 in the first half at Phoenix the night prior.
Bane shook off a hard fall early in the second quarter and had success driving to the basket, hitting from distance, and getting to the free throw line to help put Orlando ahead by four points at the half.
“You cannot say enough about Desmond Bane,” Mosley said. “He’s just a flat-out winner. That’s it. He’s going to find a way no matter what. Beat up, banged up, it doesn’t matter. He’s going to find a way to will his team to a win, and that’s just what he brings to this group.
“The toughness, the focus, making shots, getting downhill … All those little things within the game, he’s making the right plays,” the Magic coach added.
It was his second game in a row with 30-plus points and his ninth such showing of the season.
Banchero up-and-down
For a third straight game, Banchero struggled on offense in the first quarter, but he was able to settle into the contest with a seven-point second quarter.
Even when his shot wasn’t falling, the 6-foot-10 forward was active on the floor with seven rebounds and eight assists while remaining aggressive throughout the night.
Still, he pieced together a far from efficient night, ending 6 for 16 from the floor (including 3 for 8 in the paint) with two turnovers.
Orlando’s starters scored 91 of the team’s 111 points, including a double-double from Wendell Carter Jr. (15 points and 14 rebounds).
Free points
Bane entered the night shooting 92.8% from the free throw line, but couldn’t convert with success at Los Angeles. The Magic guard shot 6 for 10 the charity stripe on a night where Orlando shot 74% at the line (23 for 31).
Meanwhile, the Clippers shot 24 for 28 (86%) and were led by Leonard, who shot 7 for 9.
In a two-point win, the Magic missed eight free throws.
Rookie watch
First-round pick Jase Richardson, who didn’t play the night prior against the Suns, saw the court late in the first quarter.
His first two shots from the floor were a pair of floaters that he sunk, but he didn’t score again, finishing with 4 points and two assists in 10 minutes.
Second-round pick Noah Penda didn’t see the floor.
Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]