Desmond Bane scored 36 points and Paolo Banchero added 16 points and eight assists to help the Orlando Magic beat the Clippers 111-109 on Sunday night at the Intuit Dome.
Wendell Carter Jr. scored 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Tristan Da Silva scored 13 points for the Magic, who improved to 5-2 since February 5.
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Kawhi Leonard shook off an ankle injury and scored 37 points, and Benedict Maturin came off the bench to add 21 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who are 4-5 since Feb. 2. Maturin missed a three-pointer at the buzzer to win the game.
Jordan Miller scored 14 points for the Clippers (27-30).
Leonard exited Friday’s loss to the Lakers with a sprained ankle. Maturin was playing his fifth game with the Clippers after being acquired from the Indiana Pacers at the trade deadline.
Orlando won the game despite shooting 8 of 23 from 3-point range, setting a franchise record with 27 3-pointers in two games against Sacramento. Jalen Suggs missed the Magic’s second straight game with back spasms.
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In this close game, Leonard made a jump shot from the top of the arc with 3 minutes and 03 seconds left to help the Clippers lead 107-105. The Magic took the initiative after that, with Bane tying the score with a jumper and then scoring a layup to lead 109-107 with 1:28 left.
The Clippers missed four consecutive shots. With 40 seconds left in the game, Banchero dunked on a fast break and the Magic led 111-107.
Bane tried to extend the Magic’s lead with eight seconds left, but his shot was blocked inside by rookie Yanich Konan Niederhauser. Maturin then rushed down the court but missed a 25-footer as time expired.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.