Paolo Banchero scored 27 points and Desmond Bane added 21 as the Orlando Magic defeated the Miami Heat 121-117 on Saturday at Kaseya Center.
Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 15 points, and Orlando extended its winning streak to seven games while snapping Miami’s season-best, seven-game streak.
The Magic led by as many as 22 points, but the Heat twice cut the margin to two in the final 18.5 seconds before Orlando held on for the victory.
Orlando improved to 38-28, moving a game ahead of Miami in the Eastern Conference playoff race, marking their first time 10 games over .500 since the 2023-24 season.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 22, while Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell each had 20 for the Heat, who went 0-5 against Orlando this season, a feat not seen since Miami lost five to New York in 1992-93.
Tyler Herro returned from injury and scored 10 points, while Powell came off the bench for the first time since 2023-24. Both additions were not enough to stop Orlando’s dominance.
Orlando exploited mismatches in the paint and hit 23 of 25 free throws, finishing with a 49-32 edge in points in the paint. Miami managed 47% shooting overall and 32% from beyond the arc.
Banchero added eight rebounds and seven assists, while Bane contributed four boards and three assists in 35 minutes, anchoring the Magic’s balanced attack.
Orlando will visit Atlanta on Monday, while Miami travels to Charlotte on Tuesday as both teams look to strengthen their playoff positioning.
