Feb 21, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) moves the ball in front of Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) during the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Desmond Bane hit a tiebreaking foul shot with 45.2 seconds left, and the visiting Memphis Grizzlies rallied from a 19-point third-quarter deficit to defeat the Orlando Magic 105-104 on Friday in the NBA.
Jaren Jackson Jr. blocked a potential game-winning 10-foot shot attempt by Paolo Banchero in the closing seconds to preserve the win for the Grizzlies, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
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Memphis finished on an 11-1 run in the final 4 1/2 minutes to complete the comeback.
Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 23 points and five assists, and Bane and Jackson added 16 points apiece. Bane also grabbed seven rebounds. Brandon Clarke contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds, GG Jackson scored 12 and Santi Aldama had nine points and 11 boards.
Franz Wagner scored 10 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter for Orlando, which had won three of its previous four games. Banchero finished with 21 points, 19 coming in the second half. Cole Anthony added 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Wendell Carter Jr. had 10 points and 11 boards.
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Orlando, which opened a seven-game homestand, couldn’t close out the game in the fourth quarter.
A tip-in from Goga Bitadze put the Magic up 103-94 with 4:38 to play.
Morant then sank a 3-pointer and added another basket. After each team made 1 of 2 free throws, Jackson went 2-for-2 at the line, and Morant drove for a layup that tied the game 104-104 with 1:50 to go.
Bane sank 1 of 2 at the line to put Memphis on top. Wagner and Banchero missed on subsequent 3-point attempts, and after Aldama was unsuccessful on two foul shots with 10.7 seconds to go, Jackson’s block on Banchero sealed the win.
Banchero entered the game averaging 30.3 points in the Magic’s previous three games, but he started slowly. He was 0-for-6 shooting in the first half and was limited to two points in nine minutes because of foul trouble.
He quickly re-established himself to start the second half. Banchero scored nine points during an 11-0 Orlando run for a 64-53 advantage. The Magic outscored the Grizzlies 23-4 to open the quarter for a 76-57 cushion.
But the Grizzlies recovered and ended the quarter in much the same fashion the Magic started it. Memphis put on a late 23-2 run in the third quarter to take an 80-78 lead. Four consecutive 3-pointers — including three in a row by GG Jackson — powered the comeback.
Orlando led 83-80 after three quarters as Banchero closed with a 3-pointer, giving him 15 points in the quarter.
The game was tied 53-53 at halftime. —Field Level Media