Tonight, in a thrilling NBA Cup quarterfinals matchup, the Orlando Magic defeated the Miami Heat, 117-108, behind a monster shooting night from Desmond Bane. The guard was everywhere, leading the team with Paolo Banchero still ramping up from his injury and Franz Wagner out for the remaining Cup games. After the game, Bane spoke to the media about his motivations.

“I just lost $35,000,” he joked. “I got to go get it back somehow… But I’m excited. Great opportunity for us to play some meaningful basketball early in the season.”

He’s referring to the fine assessed to him for a previous incident that occurred during the Magic’s game against the New York Knicks. During a fast break that caused OG Anunoby and Anthony Black to fall out of bounds, Bane, upon catching the ball, immediately rifled it at the Knicks forward.

Afterward, the NBA’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations, James Jones, issued a statement, referring to the incident as “throwing the ball with force at an opponent in an unsportsmanlike manner,” for which Bane was fined.

The fine was likely issued due to continued ball-spikes from Bane, something he was ejected for earlier in the game against the Atlanta Hawks.

This is where the NBA Cup comes in. The Cup awards prize money as a part of the Knockout stage as motivation for players, and in Bane’s case, it seems to be working. For making it to the quarterfinals, every player receives $53,093, with two-way contracts and assistant coaches receiving slightly lower amounts.

With the Magic beating the Heat tonight, Bane has already earned back the fine amount, and it’s only up from here. For making the semifinals, the prize increases to $106,187, and for winning the championship game, the prize rises to $212,373. Winning the championship will earn the players $530,933 each.

How the Orlando Magic’s Depth and Desmond Bane’s Surge Buried the Miami Heat

Desmond Bane’s fourth-quarter surge separated Orlando late in the game and served as a reminder of why the team traded for him with four first-rounders in the offseason. Miami threw length, traps, and switches at him, but none of it mattered once he found a rhythm.

Bane finished with 37 points with six threes, fueling the Magic’s mid-game comeback that flipped the script for the Heat.

“He’s been a hell of a scorer, shooter, player in general since he’s been in the league,” Paolo Banchero complimented Bane after the game. “He’s more than just a shooter… He had 37 against Detroit without hitting any threes.”

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That’s what should worry the East. Orlando didn’t just win without Franz Wagner, but completely controlled the second half with depth, tempo, and a bench that locked in after an early 16-point hole.

Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga kept Miami off balance inside, and Jalen Suggs completely disrupted the pace of Miami’s perimeter attack.

Miami, meanwhile, played like a team searching for its identity. After starting the season hot, with a six-game winning streak in the second half of November, the team suffered four straight losses tonight.

Bam Adebayo logged an all-around performance with 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists, a steal and three blocks, but Tyler Herro looked subdued, unable to connect on any of his threes, and Norman Powell was held to just 33% from beyond the arc.

The Heat fell apart late, making just two three-pointers in the second half, and their NBA Cup loss showed that head coach Erik Spoelstra’s squad still has a way to go before they can truly be a threat in the Eastern Conference.