On a 12-game night in the NBA, three matchups needed just about every second and provided fans with exciting finishes. Let’s do a quick roundup of the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors doing work when it matters most.

Magic 104, Nets 103

Orlando’s Paolo Banchero called game in overtime in Brooklyn after the Magic coughed up an 18-point second-half lead to the Brooklyn Nets. Banchero entered the night shooting 26.3 percent in clutch time and was 2-of-9 on potential go-ahead shots within the final five seconds of the fourth quarter/OT.

Banchero finished with 30 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. The game-winning shot was his only made 3-pointer of the night. It was his third 30-point game of the season.

The Magic moved to 21-17 on the season and are just ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Despite being so close to Play-In Tournament territory, Orlando sits only 3.5 games out of second place in the East.

Thunder 129, Jazz 125

Oklahoma City survived the Utah Jazz 129-125 in overtime behind a monster 46-point performance from reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It was SGA’s 15th career game with 40-plus points, five-plus rebounds and five assists, tying Kevin Durant for second most in franchise history.

After a 24-1 record to start the season, OKC is 7-6 over its last 13 games, including three losses to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs and a 27-point loss to the struggling Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.

With their hot start, many believed the Thunder could surpass the Golden State Warriors’ 73-9 season, but the last few weeks have shown the defending champs aren’t infallible. With the win against Utah, OKC narrowly avoided its first three-game losing streak since April 2024.

Raptors 97, Hornets 96

Toronto continued its surprisingly strong start to the season by beating an opponent it should beat, but did so in a fun way. Immanuel Quickley capped a 21-point night by hitting a game-winning 3-pointer over the outstretched arms of Sion James.

The Raptors win lifted them to 23-15 on the season to give them their best 38-game start since the 2019-20 season (25-13). It was also their 13th win in clutch-time situations this season, trailing only the Detroit Pistons (16) for the NBA lead.

In the big picture, Toronto sits fourth in the East, trailing Detroit by 5.5 for the conference lead and sitting only 1.5 games behind the New York Knicks for second place. By simply remaining within the top six, the Raptors can snap a three-season playoff drought by remaining formidable in the conference. Those three seasons without a playoff berth mark Toronto’s longest postseason absence, missing the playoffs from 2009 to 2013.

ALL ANGLES: IQ GAME-WINNING 3 ⏰😤 pic.twitter.com/tIuXEEPhx6

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors)