ORLANDO – After a historic night that saw Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero score 50 points, the third-year star was asked when he knew he had it going.
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero reacts after dunking the ball against the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter at Kia Center. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images He doesn't turn 22 for another two weeks. In just his 156th career regular-season game, Banchero put up numbers that haven't been accomplished in the NBA since he was a child:
It wasn't just Banchero's scoring, which Orlando needed every bit of to scratch past Indiana and arrive at 3-1 before a five-game road trip. With Franz Wagner battling illness and leaving the game after just 11 minutes, the reliance on Banchero increased. He took a tougher defensive assignment, matching up with Pacers leading scorer Siakam.
"Obviously his offensive game is special," Suggs said. "He has one of the most special bags in the league. But he plays winning basketball and he wants to win basketball games. That's what I think makes him special and why I love to play with him. It's never about personal accolades or stats. He wants to do whatever needs to be done to win.Earlier this year, Mosley said his cornerstone forward is doing what the game calls of him.