Magic escape Clippers in 111-109 victory

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on Feb 23, 2026

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The Orlando Magic were already facing an uphill battle when they entered Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles 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 the excuses stop them from digging deep late and capturing a 111-109 victory.

In a game that was tied 14 times and featured 19 lead changes, buckets from Desmond Bane (36 points) and Paolo Banchero (16) put Orlando ahead by four points late. Kawhi Leonard (37 points) hit a jumper to bring the Clippers within two, but Bennedict Mathurin (21) missed a go-ahead 3-pointer at the buzzer.

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.

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 with two turnovers. Orlando’s starters scored 91 of the team’s 111 points.

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 from 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 four points and two assists in 10 minutes.

Second-round pick Noah Penda didn’t see the floor.