Desmond

Bane

After scoring 25 points or more in three consecutive games, Bane was limited to 18 on Wednesday. However, he shot the ball efficiently and tied for the team lead in assists as part of a complete stat line. Bane has played consistently well recently, which is precisely what he and the Magic wanted heading into the postseason.

Bane has been on fire during Orlando’s three-game win streak, averaging 26.3 points, 2.0 steals, 1.3 blocks and 3.3 triples per game. His first season in Orlando go off to a shaky start, but he has been a fantasy stud during the second half of the season, which has helped the Magic stay afloat despite numerous injuries. With three games left until the postseason, Bane’s continued hot shooting will be pivotal to Orlando’s chances of avoiding the play-in tournament.

For the first time in three weeks, Bane has recorded consecutive 20-point games. The Magic guard, who shot 3-of-8 from beyond the arc, recorded a complete stat line in 34 minutes. Bane’s final two games of Week 23 were certainly useful to fantasy managers. For those competing in leagues that run through Week 24, the Magic play four games, starting with the Pistons on Monday.

Bane was effective on both ends of the floor on Friday, as his impact helped the Magic get back into the win column. Bane’s 27 points only trailed Wendell Carter Jr.'s 27 points for the most on the team. His three-point shooting was a factor, as was his ability to convert at the line. Additionally, the sixth-year guard tied a team high in rebounds, assists, and steals. Bane did it all for the Magic, and they’re going to need more of the same from him in an attempt to move up in the standings and out of the Play-In Tournament.

Carter’s 28 points led all Magic players on Friday, as Desmond Bane’s 27 points were the only other players’ in the vicinity. In 36 minutes, the veteran center was accurate outside the arc and really utilized the charity stripe to his advantage. Carter didn’t put up big numbers in any other statistical category. However, his high production as a scorer was enough to provide positive value from a fantasy standpoint.

Bane averaged 24.7 points and 3.1 assists in February, but 20.4 points and 4.6 assists in March. Those trends more or less bore out again Tuesday as the 27-year-old shooting guard had 21 points and five assists. Bane has provided top-75 per game value over the last two weeks. The Magic have three games left in Week 23, starting with a matchup against the Hawks on Wednesday.

In addition to allowing the Raptors to shoot 57.4 percent from the field, Orlando made just 37.8 percent of its attempts in the 139-87 defeat. Bane was the most productive of the Magic’s five starters, but that rings hollow when you lose by 52 points. Bane has provided second-round value in eight-cat formats since the All-Star break, and he’s certainly capable of sustaining that during the championship week of Yahoo! default leagues. Orlando plays four games in Week 23, starting with the Suns on Tuesday.

After scoring at least 20 points in five of his first eight games in March, Bane has recorded two such games over his last six. Against the Kings, he shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and 8-of-8 from the foul line. The eight free-throw attempts were the most in a game for Bane since March 11. Jalen Suggs ' return to the lineup after a two-game absence allowed Bane to focus more on scoring, and fantasy managers reaped the rewards.

On a night when the Magic were without Jalen Suggs, Bane took on more playmaking responsibilities. The seven assists, which equaled his total in Orlando’s prior two games, were the most for Bane since he recorded nine in a March 8 win over the Bucks. Add in the points and rebounds, and this was a decent start to Week 22 for Bane. Jevon Carter, who replaced Suggs in the starting lineup, offered little in 24 minutes, finishing with two points (1-of-5 FGs), three rebounds and one steal.

After two straight games with fewer than 20 points, Bane got back on track in this one. However, due to the lopsided score, he only played 26 minutes, or this could have been a much bigger night for him. Bane has been incredible in 2026 despite a shaky start to his tenure with the Magic, which has led to him ranking in the top 10 in nine-category leagues over the past month. They’ll wrap up the week against the Lakers on Saturday.