Desmond Bane Takes Over Late as Orlando Magic Erase 15-Point Deficit to Stun Bulls
For nearly three quarters on Monday night inside the Kia Center, the Orlando Magic looked like a team wading through quicksand. The rhythm wasn’t there, the shots were clanging off the iron, and the Chicago Bulls were running downhill, building a lead that felt far more commanding than the scoreboard even indicated.
But in the NBA, momentum is a fickle thing. Just when it looked like Chicago was poised to run away with a road victory, Desmond Bane decided he had seen enough.
Bane erupted for 37 points—dropping a blistering 18 of them in the fourth quarter alone—to power the Magic to a thrilling 125-120 victory over the Bulls. It was the kind of gritty, identity-forging win that head coach Jamahl Mosley has been preaching about all season, turning a potential blowout loss into a statement about resilience.
Magic Rally From Deep Deficit
The narrative of this game will rightly focus on the finish, but the context makes the ending that much sweeter for Orlando fans. Midway through the third quarter, the Magic offense had completely flatlined. They went the first five minutes of the second half without a single field goal, watching helplessly as the Bulls extended their lead to 15 points.
The energy in the building had evaporated. Chicago’s Josh Giddey was carving up the defense, and Nikola Vucevic was punishing his former team in the paint.
But the Magic didn’t fold. They chipped away, relying on a suffocating defensive effort that suddenly woke up. A massive driving dunk by reserve Noah Penda tied the game at 85 heading into the fourth, completely shifting the air pressure in the arena. That play bridged the gap between a disastrous third quarter and a heroic fourth.
Desmond Bane Leads Magic Surge
When the game hung in the balance, Desmond Bane took the reins. It wasn’t just that he scored; it was when and how he scored. With the clock ticking under four minutes and the game tied, Bane stepped into a transition 3-pointer with 3:23 remaining.
The net snapped. The crowd erupted. The Magic had the lead, and they wouldn’t give it back.
That shot sparked a decisive 8-0 run that finally broke the Bulls’ spirit. Bane was a model of efficiency, shooting 12-for-17 from the field, but he also facilitated the offense with five assists and grabbed six boards. He capped off his masterpiece with a clutch foul shot with 2:11 left, pushing the lead to 117-111 and effectively icing the game.
“We just needed a spark,” Bane said after the game, deflecting praise to his teammates’ defensive intensity. But everyone in the locker room knew who lit the fire.
Depth Shines for Orlando Magic
While Bane was the headliner, he didn’t act alone. This was a total team effort that highlighted the young depth on this roster. Franz Wagner continued his ascent as a legitimate star, pouring in 25 points and keeping the offense afloat when shots weren’t falling early.
Anthony Black was equally impressive. The young guard looked like a seasoned veteran, finishing with 22 points and nine rebounds. Coach Mosley acknowledged Black’s growth post-game, noting that his significant minutes are a direct result of his starter-level production.
The bench mob also played a critical role. Mosley went out of his way to praise the reserves, specifically Goga Bitadze and Tyus Jones, for stabilizing the ship. Bitadze’s interior defense was a problem for Chicago all night, and Jones provided the steady hand at point guard that allowed Bane to operate off the ball.
Defense Fuels the Magic Victory
You don’t erase a 15-point deficit just by making shots; you do it by getting stops. The Magic defense was spectacular down the stretch, recording 11 blocks and 12 steals by the final buzzer. They forced the Bulls into 20 turnovers, converting those mistakes into easy transition points.
Wendell Carter Jr. was efficient offensively with 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting, but his presence in the paint alongside Bitadze made life miserable for Chicago’s drivers late in the game.
Bulls Squander Lead Despite Balanced Attack
It’s a tough pill to swallow for Chicago. They played winning basketball for 36 minutes, but couldn’t close the deal. Josh Giddey flirted with a triple-double (22 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists), and rookie Matas Buzelis showed flashes of brilliance with 21 points. Even Vucevic did his part with a sturdy 20-point, 11-rebound double-double.
However, their execution crumbled under the Magic pressure in the final frame. A critical turnover by Ayo Dosunmu with two seconds left sealed their fate, serving as a microcosm of their late-game collapse.
What’s Next for the Magic
With the win, the Magic improve to 13-8, continuing to solidify their standing in the East. They don’t have much time to celebrate, though. They continue their three-game homestand on Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs, where they’ll look to carry this fourth-quarter momentum into another victory.
For tonight, however, the story is simple: The Bulls had them on the ropes, but Desmond Bane and the Magic refused to go down.
