Paolo Banchero explodes for 50 points as Orlando Magic top Indiana Pacers
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero celebrates after a basket against the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter at Kia Centre.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
ORLANDO – Paolo Banchero became the first Orlando Magic player to have a 50-point game in 20 years, and flirted with a triple-double to lead his side past the Indiana Pacers 119-115 on Oct 28.
He finished with 50 points at Kia Centre and matched Tracy McGrady’s National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise record for points scored in a half, putting up 37 in the first.
While Banchero fell short of McGrady’s Magic-record 62 points in a March 2004 game, the third-year forward joined McGrady, Shaquille O’Neal and Nick Anderson as Orlando’s only 50-point scorers.
“I’m tired,” he said after his historic feat.
“I’m tired as it was a hell of a game. Credit to them they made us fight, every minute of the game they made us fight. We had to come back and I’m just proud of my team. It was a full team effort and that was what we did.”
On his own performance, he added: “That first half (for me) was a magical first half, that’s why I knew I had it going. I just wanted to get the win. I had a rough third quarter with heavy legs, but I just want to get the win.
“Every shot felt like it was going in, it is a good feeling when you got a day like that. Not every game will be like that, but I’m glad today was.”
Banchero shot 16 of 26 from the field and made 15 of 22 free throws. He added a game-high 13 rebounds and a team-best nine assists.
His heroics offset a balanced scoring effort from the Pacers, who lost their third straight game.
Pascal Siakam’s 26 points led six Indiana scorers in double-figures. Among them was Tyrese Haliburton, who posted his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 assists. He also had nine rebounds.
The visitors built an eight-point cushion in the fourth quarter before Orlando battled back. The Magic held Indiana to five points in the final five minutes while chipping away at the deficit.
After a slow third period, Banchero erupted for nine points in the final 6min 56sec. Jalen Suggs played a big role down the stretch, hitting a free throw after Aaron Nesmith was whistled for a technical foul to put Orlando ahead 113-112 with 2:07 left.
After Haliburton made a game-tying three-pointer with 52.8 seconds to go, Suggs dished the last of his seven assists to Anthony Black on a triple that gave Orlando the lead for good at 118-115.
Suggs finished with 25 points, shot six for 13 from three-point range and grabbed five rebounds.
Wendell Carter Jr’s decisive rebound on a Myles Turner miss gave him a double-double of 11 points and 10 boards. Moritz Wagner added 14 points off the bench for the Magic. REUTERS
