The fight never left the Magic, but with less than three minutes left they were behind 41-34.
All the Pulse needed to do was stay calm and avoid making errors as they closed out the game for their second win of the season, 43-37.
Kopua was named player of the match for her efforts in defence. For the Pulse, Dunn finished with 24 out of 25 shots made - easily the best of the attackers.
Third Quarter: Magic 26-29 Pulse
Rotorua's own Sam Sinclair came on at WD for the Magic after halftime and he side started working on getting themselves back in the game.
With 10 minutes left in the quarter the Magic had reduced the deficit slightly, but the Pulse still led 22-20.
There were several turnovers from both teams as the defence remained passionate at both ends. With nine minutes left in the quarter it was all square at 22-all.
Falkner's movement in goal attack for the Magic has been exceptional, involved in much of what is good about her side's play as she linked well with substitute goalshoot Kelsey McPhee. However, every time the Magic narrowed the gap, the Pulse went on another attacking spurt. With five minutes left in the quarter the Pulse had extended their lead back out to 27-24.
One constant in this game is the physicality - neither side is giving an inch. Kopua is urging her Magic teammates to "do the work" as she leads from the back with some impressive defensive plays.
However, at the end of the third quarter it is the Pulse who lead 29-26 and we are all set for a thrilling final quarter!
Second Quarter: Magic 18-21 Pulse
The Magic scored first in the second quarter to take the lead for the first time. The Rotorua crowd are showing plenty of voice for their team who are in a real arm wrestle here.
The game is being played at a ferocious pace and, while the Magic are hanging in there, the Pulse look the stronger side, leading 16-14 with eight minutes left in the quarter.
Rore and her Pulse defensive partner Sulu Fitzpatrick are playing an uncompromising and aggressive brand of netball, really getting in the faces of their opposition. The Magic are having to carefully calculate every pass.
At the other end shooters Dunn and Ameliarnne Ekenasio made the most of every opportunity, giving the Pulse an 18-15 lead with four minutes left in the quarter.
The Pulse finished the quarter strongly to lead 21-18 at halftime.
Pulse goalshoot Dunn continues to dominate the scoring sheet with 14 out of 14 shots made, followed by Magic goalshoot Latu-Meafou who has eight out of nine.
At the defensive end, Pulse goalkeep Fitzpatrick has snatched three intercepts and one rebound, while Magic's Casey Kopua has one rebound and two intercepts.
First Quarter: Magic 9-9 Pulse
Despite losing WD Karin Burger to a blood nose within the first 12 seconds, the Pulse have started strongly, shooting out to a 5-0 lead.
The Pulse defenders are shutting down everything the home side throw at them, led by GD Katrina Rore who is certainly playing like she has a point to prove.
After a slow start the Magic woke up a little and clawed their way back to 6-4, shooters Monica Falkner and Abigail Latu-Meafou linking well in the circle. Falkner said recently that Rore was the toughest defender she has ever gone up against and she looks as if she is in for another good battle tonight.
The Pulse continued to make the Magic work for every inch of space and every point, but at the end of the quarter it was all tied up at 9-all.
Pulse sharpshooter Aliyah Dunn is shooting at 100 per cent with six out of six while the Magic's Latu-Meafou is next best with four out of five.
EARLIER
The Waikato BOP Magic, hosting this game in Rotorua, go into it knowing a win will see them leapfrog their opposition, the Central Pulse, into second place.
The Magic started this season with a 42-48 loss to the Mainland Tactix in Hamilton, but bounced back to beat the Northern Stars 57-51 last Monday at the same venue.
The Magic looked to have found a good rhythm in that game. The defenders made a real nuisance of themselves, but it was the young attacking line-up really stole the show with 89 per cent shooting accuracy (especially Abigail Latu-Meafou – the game's MVP - who shot 34 from 37).
Meanwhile, the Pulse have played one game so far in the 2019 season - an emphatic 62-39 win over the Northern Mystics in Hamilton. Teenager Aliyah Dunn, who was the second most accurate shooter in the 2018 ANZ Premiership, picked up where she left off making 37 of her 40 shots in that match.
These two sides last met in round seven last season and it was the Pulse who emerged 63-48 victors. They lead the head-to-head between the two sides with four wins and two losses.
Interestingly, the Magic played out their victory over the Stars last week without making any substitutions or positional changes. It was just the third time in 32 ANZ Premiership matches they have done this.
