Paolo Banchero finally had his career night on Monday. He showed everyone just what kind of magical skills he possessed.
Paolo Banchero played the most thrilling game in the history of the Orlando Magic franchise. He scored 37 points in the first half against the Indiana Pacers, equating a record in the franchise that is tremendous. He went out and completed the game with 50 points, ranking him as one of the five single-game winners from the Magic. Thanks to that incredible show, Orlando won the day in a neck-and-neck 119-115 final.
“Man, I’m drained-my core is empty,” declared Banchero after helping his team put up their first 50-point scoring performance in the league. “Though I must say, it has been a fantastic game.”
Banchero, a Rookie of the Year winner two years ago and an All-Star for the first time last year. He made his first 13 of the 17 field-goal attempts during the first half but was only 16-for-26 for the night in this game. Other than his scoring, Banchero was also huge, pulling down 13 boards, and added with nine assists to show him a well-rounded play as well.
The Magic ended their three-year drought out of the postseason, so it will be the first season in the playoffs since the 2019-20 bubble season. The addition of Paolo Banchero will take them further in the coming playoffs.
When the Orlando Magic drafted Paolo Banchero as the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, much hope was set on his potential to transform into a prominent figure in the franchise’s legacy. Time fast-forwarded to now, and, surely, he has fully taken to the role, displaying incredible talent and poised play.
Against the Pacers in the last game, Banchero recorded pretty good stats, including scoring 21.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. On the shooting end, his field goal percentage stood at 40.8%, three-point percentage at 42.9%, and free-throw percentage at 60%.
The playoff loss by the Orlando Magic to the Cleveland Cavaliers was not a setback for Paolo Banchero, however. Instead, it demonstrated his abilities by having him average 27.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. His percentage shot was equally impressive with his field goal percentage of 45.6 percent, beyond the arc of 40 percent, and a 75.5 percent success rate at the free throw line. It brought forth his emergence as one of the better players in the league.
“Without a doubt, that first half was truly a magical experience,” Banchero remarked.
