Desmond Bane Leads Magic to Fifth Straight Win, 128-122 Over Cavaliers

ORLANDO, Fla. — Desmond Bane scored 35 points, including a crucial late 3-pointer, to fuel the Orlando Magic’s 128-122 victory over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, extending the Magic’s winning streak to five games. The win improves Orlando’s record to 36-28 on the season.

Bane’s Clutch Performance Seals Victory

Bane connected on 12 of 19 field goal attempts, including 2 of 3 from three-point range, and added six rebounds and six assists. With the game tightly contested in the final seconds, Bane hit a three-pointer with 17 seconds remaining and added three free throws to secure the win. “I got free, Jalen Suggs hit me right on target and I shot it with confidence,” Bane said, according to ESPN recap.

Banchero and da Silva Contribute for Orlando

Paolo Banchero added 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists for the Magic. Tristan da Silva contributed 23 points, with nine coming in the fourth quarter. Orlando, winners in eight of their last 11 games, moved into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, three games behind fourth-place Cleveland.

Harden and Mitchell Lead Cavaliers’ Comeback Attempt

James Harden led the Cavaliers with 30 points, shooting 11 of 16 from the field and 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. Donovan Mitchell added 25 points for Cleveland. The Cavaliers attempted a late comeback, with three-pointers from Harden and Mitchell bringing them within two points, 122-120, in the final minute. However, Bane’s clutch shooting proved to be the difference.

Eastern Conference Standings Update

The victory for Orlando and the Cavaliers’ loss impacts the Eastern Conference standings. New York improved to 42-25 and moved 1.5 games ahead of Cleveland for third place in the East after defeating Utah 134-117. ESPN reports that Jalen Brunson scored 28 points and added a game-high eight assists to lead the Knicks.

Other NBA Results

In New Orleans, Trey Murphy scored 28 points and Dejounte Murray added 27 to lead the Pelicans to a 122-111 victory in Toronto, according to the Associated Press.

Looking Ahead

The Cavaliers will travel to Dallas on Friday night, whereas the Magic will host Washington on Thursday night. Orlando’s five-game winning streak is their longest of the season.