Magic fall at home to Kevin Durant, Rockets

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on Feb 26, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

ORLANDO, Fla. — Playing in their first home game following the NBA All-Star break, the Magic were aiming to carry over the momentum gained from their 3-1 West Coast road trip when they hosted the Houston Rockets on Thursday night at Kia Center.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosely‘s squad, however, gave up a double-digit to lead to Houston and fell, 113-108, in its first of four home games over the course of the upcoming week.

Playing in front of a national TV audience on Amazon’s Prime Video, Magic guard Desmond Bane notched 30 points but was outdueled by Houston star Kevin Durant, who scored 40.

Orlando led by as many as 19 points, but Houston clawed back into the game by way of a 21-0 run during the third quarter while playing on the second night of back-to-back.

The No. 3 team in the West, the Rockets (37-21) led early and finished on top in a contest that featured 12 lead changes.

The Magic (31-27) continue their four-game homestand when they host the Pistons on Sunday.

Bane boost

Upon re-entering the first quarter with 2:34 left in the frame, Bane hit three 3-pointers. He converted his first five triples and posted 17 points in the first half.

Bane scored 30-plus points for the fourth time in the past six games and the 10th time this season. He added six rebounds and four assists.

Rest of starters

Although Jalen Suggs (back strain) was available to play, Mosley stuck with the same starting five — Anthony Black, Bane, Tristan da Silva, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. — as the past three games.

Banchero had eight points, five rebounds and four assists in the first half.

He shot 6 for 10 and finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.

Carter converted on two early shots near the basket and scored the majority of his 16 points around the rim, shooting an efficient 6 for 8 from the floor.

Da Silva and Black finished with eight points apiece.

Suggs’ return

Coming off the bench for the first time since his second season in the league (2022-23), Suggs played mostly 4-5 minute stints.

He scored his first points off a steal and running jumper and picked up two fouls less than two minutes after entering the game.

The Magic guard finished with three points in 13 minutes while shooting 1 for 6 from the floor.

Second-chance scoring

The Magic posted 18 second-chance points before Houston scored any.

Orlando had success on the offensive glass, outrebounding Houston 15-10 on that end of the floor.

Ultimately, Orlando ended with 30-7 advantage in second-chance scoring. Veteran guard Jevon Carter (14 points) was a big factor in that difference, hitting multiple 3-pointers off of offensive boards grabbed by the Magic.

Free points

The Magic got to the free-throw line 21 times but made only 13 of their attempts.

Meanwhile, Durant made 10 free throws as the Rockets shot 16 for 20 from the charity stripe.