$35K Fine Recovery Adds to Desmond Bane’s Joy in NBA Cup Victory Over Heat

After being handed a fine of $35k, Orlando Magic star Desmond Bane had a hilarious reply after their win over the Miami Heat in the NBA Cup quarterfinal.

$35K Fine Recovery Adds to Desmond Bane’s Joy in NBA Cup Victory Over Heat

Desmond Bane (Image credits - Firstsportz)

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It was an impressive win for the Orlando Magic, led by Desmond Bane, as they beat the Miami Heat, 117-108 at the Kia Center in the East Quarterfinal of the 2025 NBA Cup on Tuesday night. The Magic were firing on all cylinders in offense as all the players in the starting-five recorded double-digit points with Bane leading the pack with 37 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists.

After a slow start to the game where they were down by 13 in the first quarter, the Magic went into the half down by only one point. The win guarantees the Magic a place in the semifinals and propels them to fourth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 15-10 record. After going 8-7 in their first 15 games, Orlando have picked up the pace and have now won seven of their last 10.

While the NBA Cup is still in it’s early days and may still not be a major objective to a franchise’s season, it is still a reason to celebrate for the Magic fans and players, especially Desmond Bane. The in-season tournament may not play a role in any player’s legacy but there is a lot of motivation for the players to go all in and win it. The main reason being the money involved.

As they are into the final-four, each player is guaranteed $106k, the figure rises to $212k if they make it to the finals and the winners pocket half a million dollars. With a guaranteed $106k for the Magic players, Bane will be the happiest of the lot. The former Memphis Grizzlies player needed it as it covers up for the fine he received in his last game against the New York Knicks. In the post-game press conference, a delighted Bane said:

I just lost $35k. So I gotta go and get it back somehow.

After a slow start to the season in his new club, Bane has found his footing in the last few weeks and his 37 points on Tuesday was his first 30-point game of the season. The Magic will be counting on their forward in the semifinals as he currently averages 19 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

NBA hits Desmond Bane with a hefty fine

Moments of frustration and trash talking are common in sports during a game, many times even going unnoticed or deemed as unserious. The most recent being the heated exchange between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks. But the NBA slapped Bane with a $35k fine for his actions in the fourth quarter against the Knicks. The forward threw the ball with force at Knicks forward, OG Anunoby.

OG Anunoby and Desmond Bane
OG Anunoby (Left) and Desmond Bane (right) (Image credits – Jason Beede/X)

The action was deemed as “unsportsmanlike” after the game by James Jones, who is the Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

This is not the first time Bane was caught for doing this. Earlier this season, Bane chucked the ball at Atlanta Hawks big man Onyeka Okongwu during a very similar play. While the fine may not be much as the 27-year-old has recovered three times the amount after making it to the semifinals of the NBA Cup, he will need to keep a check of his emotions and not repeat such moments of frustration.

Orlando Magic will take on the New York Knicks in the semifinals

After the Magic knocked out the Heat in the first quarterfinal, the Knicks took out the Toronto Raptors in a convincing victory by 117-101 at the Scotiabank Arena. It will be a chance for redemption for the Magic after their recent loss to the Knicks.

With $202k on the line, it promises to be an exciting game with a lot of money involved as the semifinals and final will be held in Las Vegas. There is no love lost between the two teams as they face off for the final time in the regular season with the stakes higher than ever. 

The Knicks and Magic have already played three times so far this season, with the Magic winning the first two and the Knicks coming out on top in the most recent meeting. A lot to play for on December 12.

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