Desmond Bane sank a 27-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Orlando Magic a 115-112 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night at the Kia Center. The dramatic shot capped a wild sequence where Portland erased a nine-point deficit only to fall short at the final second.
Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 28 points and nine rebounds, while Bane added 22 points and seven assists. Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 19 points each, with Carter also grabbing nine boards. Jett Howard’s third-quarter 3-pointer helped the Magic build their largest lead of 12 points, 87-75.
Portland, playing the second game of a five-game road trip, mounted a furious comeback. Shaedon Sharpe scored 31 points, and Deni Avdija added 27, including key 3-pointers during an 11-0 run in the final two minutes. Jerami Grant briefly put the Trail Blazers ahead 112-110 with 10.6 seconds left on a layup and free throw combination.
Banchero had earlier tied the game with a layup while drawing a foul, missing the subsequent free throw to keep the score even with five seconds remaining. He then stole Portland’s inbounds pass with 1.9 seconds left, setting up Bane for the game-winning shot.
Orlando struggled from distance, making only eight of 30 3-point attempts, with Bane’s buzzer-beater accounting for his lone long-range make. Despite fatigue from playing three games in four nights and missing guard Jalen Suggs due to a knee issue, the Magic held on for the win.
Portland’s comeback was fueled by Avdija’s late surge, but the Trail Blazers’ only lead of the second half came on Grant’s play with just over 10 seconds left. The team’s inability to sustain momentum in the closing moments proved costly.
The Magic improve to 5-5 and will visit the New York Knicks on Wednesday, while Portland falls to 5-6 before heading to New Orleans for their next matchup.
