Bane's Inferno: Short-Handed Magic Slay Heat in NBA Cup Quarterfinals

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ORLANDO, FL — The Orlando Magic delivered a gritty, come-from-behind victory that will define their early-season identity, defeating the bitter rival Miami Heat 117-108 in the Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals last night.

The victory, played before a raucous crowd at the Kia Center, was a collective statement of defiance by the Magic, who not only had to climb out of a massive hole but did so in their first game without injured star forward Franz Wagner.

The 15-0 Stunner and the Bane Answer

The night started as a nightmare for the Magic (15-10). The Heat (14-11) made their first six shots of the game, led by an aggressive Tyler Herro, and raced out to a 15-0 lead barely three minutes into the contest. Playing without Wagner, who is out with a high ankle sprain, the Magic looked shellshocked.

But as the initial storm passed, Desmond Bane took center stage.

Scoring Explosion: Bane, the marquee offseason acquisition, put on a scoring clinic, pouring in a season-high 37 points on a hyper-efficient $14/24$ shooting from the field. He was lethal from beyond the arc, draining 6 of 9 three-pointers.
The Fourth Quarter Decider: Bane was particularly dominant in the final frame, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter alone. He hit two timely three-pointers and completed a three-point play in the first two minutes of the period, turning a six-point Magic lead into a decisive 13-point advantage that the Heat could never erase.

Heat’s Cold Snap and Magic’s Depth

After their scorching start, the Heat went ice cold, allowing the Magic to turn the tide with a massive $39-27$ run in the second quarter that gave Orlando a one-point lead at the half.

Miami’s Woes: The Heat’s offense was ultimately sunk by poor perimeter shooting, finishing a dismal 8 for 33 (24.2%) from three-point range. Tyler Herro, despite scoring 20 points, failed to connect on any of his six attempts from deep, including a critical open shot late in the game that could have cut the deficit to four.
Team Effort: The Magic’s win was secured by balanced scoring around Bane. Jalen Suggs added 20 points and stellar defense, while Paolo Banchero contributed 18 points and 7 rebounds, showing that the team’s depth can compensate for Wagner’s absence.

The victory—Orlando’s third over Miami this season—punches the Magic’s ticket to the Final Four in Las Vegas, where they will face the New York Knicks in the Semifinals on Saturday. For the Heat, the loss marks their third straight defeat and prematurely ends their first NBA Cup campaign.