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50 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists: Only LeBron was younger
“I’m tired,” said <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/aj-griffin-the-other-nugget-of-duke-nba/" title="AJ Griffin, the other nugget of Duke | NBA“>Paolo Banchero after his historic performance against the Indiana Pacers last night: “I’m dead tired.” The American with Italian roots scored exactly 50 points. At 21 years and 351 days, he was the youngest Magic player to achieve this feat along with at least ten rebounds and five assists, and the second youngest ever. The youngest? None other than LeBron James. It was the Orlando Magic‘s first 50-point game since 2004 (Tracy McGrady).
After two games in which he had not put more than 16 points on the scoreboard each, and there had already been slight criticism, Banchero knew how to respond in an impressive way. At halftime he already had 37 points – as many as all five Pacers starters combined. “The first half was truly magical.”
Banchero: “As if I were in the training hall”
“I was just in focus. It felt like I was in the training hall,” said Banchero, describing his evening. “Every throw felt like it was going in, and that was a great feeling.”
In the end, despite the offensive gala of its power forward, Orlando prevailed against Indiana by just four points (119:115) and even managed to catch up in the final phase. Pascal Siakam, who was defended by Banchero, only converted two of his seven shot attempts in the final twelve minutes, having previously made eight of eleven.
More responsibility without Wagner
Banchero’s performance came at the right time. Co-star Franz Wagner was only able to play eleven minutes due to an unspecified illness. In his absence, the number one pick in the 2022 draft successfully took on more responsibility.
After the Magic lacked the “go-to guy” in last season’s playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Banchero is increasingly emerging as that.
