The Orlando Magic flipped the script in dramatic fashion, punching their ticket to the 2025 NBA Cup semifinals after grinding out a 117-108 win over the Heat.
The game came in three clear acts. Miami dominated the opening four minutes, Orlando controlled the final stretch of nearly half an hour, and the middle portion was a steep uphill climb that tested every ounce of the Magic’s energy.
Bane takes center stage
As in any great series, one star stole the spotlight. This time it was Desmond Bane. Orlando’s marquee offseason addition, who cost two players and four first-round picks, has steadily taken on a larger role and has now scored 37 points in three of his last six games. This matchup was another showcase.
Bane and the rest of the Magic started flat as Miami opened with a 15-0 run. The Heat built a 16-point lead in barely four minutes, going up 20-4 while Orlando struggled to find its footing. The Magic settled in, knowing they had a long road ahead, and began chipping away. What was a 30-17 deficit after one quarter became a manageable 41-37 midway through the second.
Orlando flips the scoreboard
With four minutes left before halftime, Orlando finally completed the comeback, taking a 47-46 lead after outscoring Miami 43-26 over a 16-minute span. Bane fueled the surge with 12 of his 37 points. The game leveled out from there. Orlando looked drained from the chase while Miami reeled from the punch it had just absorbed.
Bane’s burst decides the fourth
The final period broke the game open for Orlando. Bane struck quickly, pouring in 11 points in the first four minutes and finishing with 15 in the quarter. His scoring burst pushed the Magic from a 92-83 lead to a commanding 103-89 advantage that Miami could not overcome.
Bane was the headliner, but not the only key contributor. Jalen Suggs scored 20 and Paolo Banchero added 18 as the Magic clinched their first appearance in the NBA Cup semifinals. Waiting in Las Vegas on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET will be the New York Knicks.
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Orlando Magic
Stats
5
Paolo Banchero
3
Desmond Bane
35
Goga Bitadze
0
Anthony Black
8
Jamal Cain
34
Wendell Carter Jr.
23
Tristan da Silva
13
Jett Howard
1
Jonathan Isaac
2
Tyus Jones
93
Noah Penda
11
Jase Richardson
4
Jalen Suggs
7
Orlando Robinson
Stats
Min
Pts
TR
OR
DR
Ast
Los
Rec
Blk
S1
S2
S3
RF
CF
Val
5
Paolo Banchero
32
18
7
1
6
4
3
0
1
6/7
3/8
2/5
0
3
0
3
Desmond Bane
38
37
6
1
5
5
1
1
0
3/3
8/15
6/9
0
4
0
35
Goga Bitadze
17
7
6
1
5
1
2
0
2
1/1
3/4
0/0
0
2
0
0
Anthony Black
34
10
3
1
2
7
2
1
1
0/0
5/13
0/2
0
3
0
8
Jamal Cain
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
34
Wendell Carter Jr.
30
14
10
2
8
3
0
1
1
0/0
4/5
2/3
0
2
0
23
Tristan da Silva
27
11
7
0
7
2
3
0
0
1/1
2/5
2/4
0
2
0
13
Jett Howard
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
1
Jonathan Isaac
12
0
3
0
3
0
0
0
1
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
1
0
2
Tyus Jones
17
0
2
1
1
4
1
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/1
0
0
0
93
Noah Penda
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
11
Jase Richardson
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
4
Jalen Suggs
31
20
3
0
3
4
4
2
0
3/4
4/5
3/8
0
2
0
7
Orlando Robinson
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
Miami Heat
Stats
13
Bam Adebayo
0
Simone Fontecchio
15
Myron Gardner
14
Tyler Herro
25
Kasparas Jakucionis
11
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
16
Keshad Johnson
5
Nikola Jović
9
Pelle Larsson
45
Davion Mitchell
24
Norman Powell
12
Dru Smith
7
Kel’el Ware
22
Andrew Wiggins
17
Jahmir Young
50
Vladislav Goldin
Stats
Min
Pts
TR
OR
DR
Ast
Los
Rec
Blk
S1
S2
S3
RF
CF
Val
13
Bam Adebayo
35
19
8
1
7
2
0
1
3
5/6
7/11
0/3
0
1
0
0
Simone Fontecchio
7
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
0/0
0/2
0/3
0
0
0
15
Myron Gardner
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
14
Tyler Herro
34
20
7
0
7
3
1
0
0
6/7
7/11
0/6
0
2
0
25
Kasparas Jakucionis
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
11
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
24
10
3
2
1
3
1
0
0
0/0
5/11
0/1
0
3
0
16
Keshad Johnson
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
5
Nikola Jović
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
9
Pelle Larsson
10
2
2
1
1
1
1
0
0
0/0
1/2
0/0
0
0
0
45
Davion Mitchell
37
11
2
0
2
9
2
1
0
2/2
3/6
1/2
0
2
0
24
Norman Powell
34
21
7
0
7
2
1
3
0
1/2
4/7
4/12
0
3
0
12
Dru Smith
8
2
2
0
2
1
0
2
1
0/0
1/1
0/0
0
1
0
7
Kel’el Ware
12
4
6
3
3
0
0
0
1
2/2
1/1
0/0
0
2
0
22
Andrew Wiggins
35
19
2
0
2
2
1
1
1
0/0
5/8
3/6
0
2
0
17
Jahmir Young
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
50
Vladislav Goldin
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0