Desmond Bane’s 36-point night lifts Orlando Magic past Los Angeles Clippers in tight road finish

Bane leads efficient scoring surge as Orlando closes out 111-109 win in Inglewood

The Orlando Magic edged the Los Angeles Clippers 111-109 on Sunday night, Feb. 22, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, leaning on an ultra-efficient scoring performance from guard Desmond Bane and late-game execution that held up through a final possession that could have flipped the result.

Bane finished with 36 points on 13-of-19 shooting, continuing a stretch of high-volume, high-efficiency production that has become central to Orlando’s offense. The Magic, playing the second night of a back-to-back after a double-overtime game in Phoenix on Feb. 21, got additional support from Paolo Banchero (16 points, eight assists, seven rebounds) and Wendell Carter Jr. (15 points, 14 rebounds). Tristan da Silva added 13 points and Anthony Black scored 11.

How the final minutes unfolded

Los Angeles carried a 105-101 lead with 4:49 remaining, but Orlando gradually pulled even behind Bane’s rim pressure and mid-range shotmaking. With 1:26 left, a Bane drive resulted in a goaltending call that put Orlando ahead 109-107. Orlando later extended the lead to 111-107 on a fast-break dunk by Banchero with 40.4 seconds remaining, created during a transition sequence in which Bane initiated the play.

The Clippers narrowed the margin to two on a Kawhi Leonard jumper with 28 seconds left. Orlando then had a chance to add to the lead, but a late Bane attempt was blocked, keeping the door open for Los Angeles. The Clippers’ final possession ended with Bennedict Mathurin taking a potential game-winning three at the buzzer; the shot missed, sealing Orlando’s two-point win.

Clippers’ perimeter struggles and Leonard’s workload

Leonard scored 37 points on 14-of-25 shooting with eight rebounds, extending a run of consecutive 20-point games. Mathurin provided significant bench production (21 points, nine rebounds, five assists), while Jordan Miller added 14 and Brook Lopez scored 10.

Both teams shot 48.2% overall, but the game’s efficiency gap came from the arc: Orlando made 8 of 23 three-pointers, while the Clippers went 5 of 23. With the margin ultimately at two points, the disparity from long range and missed late opportunities became defining statistical features of the outcome.

Orlando’s roster context and why Bane’s role matters

Orlando acquired Bane from Memphis in a June 2025 trade that sent veteran guards Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Grizzlies along with multiple future first-round assets. Since then, Bane’s perimeter shotmaking and self-creation have been used to address an offense that has often been judged by opponents as easier to load up against when Orlando lacks reliable spacing.

• Final score: Magic 111, Clippers 109 (Feb. 22, 2026)
• Top scorer: Desmond Bane (36 points on 13-of-19 shooting)
• Key late play: Banchero fast-break dunk for a 111-107 lead with 40.4 seconds left
• Deciding moment: Mathurin missed a potential game-winning three at the buzzer

Orlando’s closing sequence combined efficient shotmaking, defensive rebounding, and a final stop that preserved a narrow road win.