Beede’s Breakdown: The Magic stumble at home after a promising West Coast swing, as Bane fuels Orlando but Durant steals the show for Houston
In their first home game after the NBA All-Star break, the Magic aimed to carry momentum from a 3-1 road trip on the West Coast into a matchup against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night at Kia Center. Instead, Orlando watched a double-figure lead slip away, dropping a 113-108 decision and ending a stretch of four home games in a week on a sour note.
Desmond Bane carried the Magic with a 30-point night on national TV via Amazon Prime Video, yet Houston’s Kevin Durant answered with 40 points, delivering a five-point win for the visitors.
Orlando led by as many as 19, only to be overwhelmed by a 21-0 run in the third quarter, a burst fueled by Houston playing on the second night of a back-to-back. The Rockets—currently the No. 3 seed in the West with a 37-21 record—took control early and finished strong, with the game featuring 12 lead changes.
The Magic (31-27) will try to rebound during a four-game homestand, beginning Sunday against the Pistons.
Bane’s hot start and growth
Bane began the game cold, not attempting a shot in the opening minutes. After re-entering in the first quarter with 2:34 left, he immediately sparked a spark, drilling three consecutive 3-pointers. He didn’t stop there, knocking down his first five attempts from beyond the arc and finishing the half with 17 points.
Overall, Bane tallied 30-plus points for the fourth time in six games and the 10th time this season, adding six rebounds and four assists.
Starting group and contributions
Jamahl Mosley kept the same starting five for a fourth straight game: Anthony Black, Desmond Bane, Tristan da Silva, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. despite Suggs returning from a back strain.
Banchero began slowly, going 1-for-6 to start yet contributing across the box score with eight points, five rebounds, and four assists in the first half. He earned more trips to the free-throw line, shooting 6-for-10 from the charity stripe, and nearly logged a triple-double with 19 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists.
Carter also got off to a slow start but finished with 16 points, largely finishing around the rim with a 6-for-8 shooting line.
Da Silva and Black started slow as well, each opening 1-for-6, though Da Silva added a trio of third-quarter three-pointers to finish with eight points and Black ended with eight as well.
Suggs’ return to action
Suggs came off the bench for the first time since the 2022-23 season, logging mostly 4- to 5-minute stints. He scored on a steal-and-run jumper, but picked up two quick fouls after entering and finished with three points in 13 minutes on 1-for-6 shooting.
Second-chance edge
The Magic dominated the boards on the offensive end early, amassing 18 second-chance points before Houston scored. Orlando outrebounded the Rockets 15-10 in that department, with nine different Magic players grabbing offensive boards.
The surge continued as the game wore on, culminating in a 30-7 advantage in second-chance scoring. Veteran guard Jevon Carter provided a key spark with 14 points, including several timely threes off offensive rebounds.
Free throws tell the tale
Orlando earned 21 trips to the free-throw line but converted only 13 attempts. Durant, by contrast, went 10-for-10 from the stripe, and Houston as a team shot 16-for-20. In a five-point loss, the Magic left several points at the line with eight missed free throws.
What’s next
Orlando will try to bounce back as they remain at home to host the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, continuing a busy homestand.
Sender’s note
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
