Desmond Bane scores 36 to lead Magic past Clippers

Orlando Magic defeat Los Angeles Clippers in close game

Feb. 23, 2026 at 10:49am

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Desmond Bane scored 36 points to lead the Orlando Magic to a 111-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. Paolo Banchero added 16 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds for the Magic, who are now 2-1 on a four-game road trip. Kawhi Leonard had 37 points and 8 rebounds for the Clippers, but Bennedict Mathurin missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Why it matters

This was an important win for the Magic as they look to build momentum on their road trip. The Clippers, meanwhile, have now dropped two straight games and will need to regroup to stay in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference.

The details

Desmond Bane shot 13-of-19 from the field to lead the Magic to victory. Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. also had strong games for Orlando. For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard continued his impressive scoring streak, but the team struggled from 3-point range, going just 5-of-23. Bennedict Mathurin had 21 points off the bench for Los Angeles.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 23, 2026.
  • Orlando led 57-53 at halftime.

The players

Desmond Bane

A guard for the Orlando Magic who scored a game-high 36 points.

Kawhi Leonard

A forward for the Los Angeles Clippers who scored 37 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.

Paolo Banchero

A forward for the Orlando Magic who had 16 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds.

Bennedict Mathurin

A guard for the Los Angeles Clippers who scored 21 points off the bench.

Wendell Carter Jr.

A center for the Orlando Magic who had 15 points and 14 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This was an exciting and close game between two talented teams. The Magic were able to pull out the victory behind Desmond Bane's big night, but the Clippers had their chances to win it at the end. Both teams will look to build on this performance as they continue their seasons.