The Vixens had produced a mighty defensive effort a week earlier to inflict a very similar defeat.
The Magic must have copied that blueprint because it employed the same tactics.
Silver Ferns defensive duo Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin scrapped hard for every possession and eventually that pressure proved telling.
The loss has serious implications for the Steel's playoff prospects. Had it beaten the Magic, it would have returned to the top four. Instead the Magic has consolidated its position.
But Steel captain Jodi Brown has not given up, although she is aware destiny is not longer in her team's hands.
''It probably doesn't help that much,'' Brown told Sky.
''We're not down and out. We've got a few games to go and I guess we are just focusing on [that]. From where we were at the beginning of the season to where we are now, I couldn't ask more from the girls.
''The positive from this game is we were better than last week. So we just have to take the positives and move on because we have a big few games coming up.''
The Steel has a disturbing habit of starting slowly and a couple of early turnovers handed the momentum to the Magic, which stretched out to lead 7-3.
But the visitors are capable of increasing the tempo on attack and, perhaps testament to their fitness, those scoring sprees tend to come towards the end of a period.
The Steel first clawed back the deficit and then took a two-goal lead into the first break.
With the sides fiercely jostling for fourth spot, there was both desperation and nerves on display and the sloppy mixed with the sublime in equal measure. The Steel, though, enjoyed the luxury of being able to lob the ball towards Fowler safe in the knowledge no-one else but the towering Jamaican would be capable of gathering it in if they got it high enough.
Brown masterfully tossed the ball Fowler's way and the shooter plucked the ball from the air with ease.
Kopua and de Bruin tried in vain to keep the ball out of Fowler's hands. Kopua showed her frustration and let out the odd roar. But they disrupted some ball and slowed down Fowler's supply enough to have a dramatic impact on the outcome. Fowler was kept to 39 goals - her lowest total for the Steel.
The Steel, however, opened up a six-goal lead midway through the second period. But the Magic cut the gap to two goals with a run of its own towards the end of the period.
Steel coach Janine Southby opted for fresh legs. Shannon Francois came on at wing attack for Courtney Tairi and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick replaced Storm Purvis at goal keep.
Momentum was with the Magic and the home side outscored the Steel 15-11 to turn the two-goal margin in its favour with 15min remaining.
A crucial unanswered seven-goal run between the end of the third period and the beginning of the fourth secured the victory.
The Steel remains in fifth place but has to keep winning, and hope that the Magic suffers a loss or two from its remaining three games, in order to make the semifinals.
ANZ Championships
The scores
Magic 58
Irene van Dyk 35 from 36, Ellen Halpenny 23/26
Steel 52
Jhaniele Fowler 39/40, Jodi Brown 13/18
Quarter scores: 1st 14-16, 2nd 28-30, 3rd 43-41
