@philiprr.bsky.social
Senior writer at Orlando Magic Daily | Host of Locked On Magic | Occasional college football writer | Watches Movies
What does the NBA Cup mean for the #Magic? That story is still being written, but the Magic are making good use of this tourney:
🌩️ Magic storm back from a brutal start
3⃣ Desmond Bane’s game-changing performance
🏆 What this win means for the season
Just out of the rotation. He plays in emergencies still.
Mose used a nine-man rotation last night. Very playoff-like.
Both were fine tonight. Isaac had some classic JI sequences. Tyus has his usual defensive weaknesses, but he slows things down and calms the team a bit.
We are definitely trending toward Jase and Noah playing more. But that might be a next year thing.
India and Miami have the same number of ACC Championships, so...
10.12.2025 04:54 — 👍 8 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Premiering at 11 p.m.:
The #Magic just fired a warning shot to the entire NBA—with Desmond Bane leading the charge.
The next game also counts for the regular season. Only the final is not a regular season game.
10.12.2025 03:34 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Desmond Bane scores a season-high-tying 37 points and makes 6 of 9 from three. That helped the #Magic erase an early 15-0 deficit. Complete defensive control and great shotmaking from there. The #Magic defeat the #Heat 117-108.
The #Magic are headed to Vegas!
The #Magic reload with their starters with a nine-point lead. Bench group held it down for a long time. Time to finish.
107-98 ORL, 4:14 4th
#Magic called a timeout quickly after the #Heat made a couple of baskets in a row. They still have their bench group out there. The #Heat have their starters minus Norman Powell out there. Might be a big last push coming here.
103-89 ORL, 7:41 4th
Desmond Bane gets a mismatch for Goga Bitadze in the post on Dru Smith. Heat collapse on him and Bitadze kicks back to Bane as he is falling.
Bane drains the three. The full Desmond Bane experience tonight. He is 6 for 8 from three tonight and has 31 points.
98-85 ORL, 9:54 4th
The #Magic led by as much as seven points and have taken control over this game. But the #Heat are still finding pockets to score and the Magic's offense still has its slow spots against this zone.
The Goga Bitadze put back ends the third with the Magic up 89-83.
Definitely a playoff rotation wrinkle to throw Desmond Bane back into the game late in the third quarter with four fouls. Pays off immediately with a nice side-step three. #Magic have their biggest lead of the game. Bane up to 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting. 80-73 ORL, 4:12 3rd
10.12.2025 00:55 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0The #Magic are never afraid to be physical. But they ahve been a bit overzealous at times. #Heat are in teh bonus with 6:47 to play in the third quarter.
Defending without fouling is key to making this work.
73-71 ORL, 6:44 3rd
Paolo Banchero up to 15 points after he hit his second three of the game. He is talking now too. Banchero has made 4 of his last 6 FGs. Banchero trying to make quicker decisions. Starting to look more comfortable attacking and moving. Defenses still swarm him.
66-64 ORL, 8:52 3d
The #Magic and #Heat exchanged some pretty massive runs. But this has largely been the game we expected. Both teams getting shots in defensively and taking turns with control and frustration. Heat head to the locker room with a 57-56 lead.
10.12.2025 00:19 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0The #Magic have their first lead of the game on a nice pass to Wendell Carter for a short jumper. The #Magic's defense has really stepped up to give the offense some life. Very Magic-like comeback.
47-46 ORL, 3:33 2nd
Desmond Bane has been a big spark in the second quarter. He has 10 points and has made all four of his shots. Really attacking downhill. He picked up his third foul defending Davion Mitchell. With Paolo Banchero limited, the #Magic cannot afford to lose him.
46-43 MIA, 5:08 2nd
The #Magic are technically on a 35-24 run now. Desmond Bane's layup has cut the deficit to four. Ball is moving a lot more and getting downhill quicker. Making shots helps the defense get set. The #Magic defense is still the #Magic defense.
39-35 MIA, 7:32 2nd
The #Magic were 6 for 20 from the floor in the first quarter with 7 turnovers. Paolo Banchero failed to make a shot in four attempts. About as disastrous as it could be.
The misses fed the #Heat's fast break and allowed them to dictate tempo. That's the key tonight.
The #Magic spotted the #Heat 15 points to open the game. Needed to make a few shots just to settle the defense down. They have a big mountain to climb. Clearly not operating on all cylinders in their first game without Franz Wagner.
Heat lead 30-17 after one quarter.
Everything is short right now for Paolo Banchero. He is getting to his spots and then just doesn't have the power to finish. Still feeling the effects of the injury. Doesn't look like he has his legs under him.
Team has settled down. But still a ways to go.
28-15 MIA, 2:47 1st
Paolo Banchero is still on a minute restriction. So he is checking out after just 4:11. He was 0 for 2. To say the least, the #Magic are not winning without Paolo scoring and being a paint presence.
Magic just need to get their defense settled. right now.
20-7 MIA, 7:31 1st
Anthony Black finally gets the #Magic on the board. Orlando hasn't been able to get their defense settled after missing their first five shots. #Heat still have not missed.
18-2 MIA, 8:48 1st
#Heat have made their first five shots and the #Magic have yet to make any. Nothing going downhill. It's too early to panic, but a pretty disastrous start.
13-0 MIA, 9:36 1st
The #Heat are making their shots early with three quick jumpers. #Magic are struggling to get downhill early. Paolo's shot at the rim that was blocked was their first in the paint. Orlando needs some offense to settle in.
10-0 MIA, 10:08 1st
FOR THE CUP!
The #Magic take on the #Heat with a trip to Vegas on the line in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Are you ready?
Your NBA Cup starting lineup for the #Magic tonight:
09.12.2025 22:33 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Very little separates the #Magic and the #Heat entering their NBA Cup tilt:
09.12.2025 19:23 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Yeah, but the Oreo statement is true...
09.12.2025 16:39 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The #Magic face their old friends from Miami for the NBA Cup quarterfinals. On today's episode:
📰 Good news on Franz's MRI
❌ How Orlando survives without Franz
🔥 Who has the edge in tonight's matchup
