If last week’s win over the Pistons was a statement made by the Magic, then Monday’s comeback victory against the Bulls proved it wasn’t a fluke.

Trailing Chicago by 15 points midway through the third quarter, Jamahl Mosley‘s squad looked itself in the mirror, found a way to tie the contest at 85 entering the fourth and ended the game on a 16-9 run to escape on top 125-120 inside Kia Center.

Although Monday’s win didn’t come against one of the top teams in the East similar to Friday’s at Detroit, it showed Orlando‘s ability to will itself to a victory late, regardless of the circumstances.

“That’s the difference between the really good teams and the average teams,” Magic guard Desmond Bane said. “It would have been easy for us to hang our head and lay down, especially against a team like that that plays so fast, shares the ball, constantly trying to touch the paint.

“They made us work for this win [and] it took a lot of effort on both sides of the ball,” he added.

After a 37-point performance was needed from Bane to earn a 3-point win at Detroit last Friday, Bane delivered once again with 37 more to battle for a 5-point win vs. the Bulls.

He became just the fourth player in franchise history to score 35-plus points in consecutive games and the first since Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady did it in three straight contests March 10-15, 2004.

“He’s a winner,” Mosley said about Bane. “He’s going to find a way to win no matter what. That’s who he is and that’s who he’s always been.”

While Bane provided the offense, Jalen Suggs (five steals), Goga Bitadze (four blocks) and Anthony Black (two blocks) added the defense. Orlando improved to 8-1 when it records at least 10 steals and 7-2 when it totals at least seven blocks.

“We had to turn them over in order to get some more possessions, because we didn’t particularly shoot the ball well,” Mosley said about the Magic, who shot 27% from 3-point range. “Us being able to turn them over to get out and get some easy baskets was necessary.

“That’s the great part about this game — we found a way to win but we are darned for sure going to learn from this game in the win,” he added.

As nice as the win was, the Magic want to avoid falling behind in the first place.

Orlando still let Chicago shoot 43% from 3-point range (it was previously 2-7 when opponents shot 37% or better from 3-point range), score 19 points off 18 Magic turnovers and rack up 54 points in the paint.

“Chicago came out and played really well, to be honest,” Suggs told the Orlando Sentinel. “Continuing to play with each other, continuing to find ways to win through these ugly games is growth. But also not putting ourselves in a position to have to go get it like that can also be growth.

“Trying to take the win for what it is — you never take them for granted so celebrating that fact but (we are) trying to keep holding ourselves to a standard,” he added. “You’re living up to that every day. That starts in the first quarter, starts to start the second half, in every moment, every run throughout the game.”

Orlando’s next chance to play up to its standard comes Wednesday, when the Spurs make their lone trip to Kia Center.

Much like the Magic, who played their ninth consecutive contest Monday without Paolo Banchero (left groin strain), San Antonio played its last seven games without All-Defensive center Victor Wembanyama (left calf strain).

The Magic (13-8) will have a rest advantage, with the Spurs hosting the Grizzlies on Tuesday night. Wembanyama was already ruled out of the first night of the back-to-back, and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle (left hip flexor strain) missed his sixth straight game.

Regardless of who takes the court Wednesday, the Magic know they will have to lean on their identity to find success after winning nine of their last 11 games and rising to fifth in the East as of Tuesday.

“We have to continue to grow,” Mosley said. “That’s the big key with what we’re trying to do, focusing on the process of how we’re trying to play.

“Our guys are recognizing and learning how to win no matter what it costs.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

Magic vs. San Antonio

When: 7, Wednesday, Kia Center

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida