Wow! Paolo scores 50 in Magic win over Pacers
ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic defeated the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, but it was special for another reason. It was Paolo Banchero’s night.
Monday night at Kia Center, it was hard to tell who was more electrified: Paolo Banchero or the roaring crowd. In just his third NBA season, Banchero put on a dazzling 50-point, 13-rebound, nine-assist performance to push the Magic past the Pacers in a 119-115 thriller, capturing the hearts of Orlando fans as the team rallied from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
From the opening tip, Banchero was in complete control, taking it to the Pacers’ defense with fierce drives and smooth finishes. He seemed unstoppable, notching a scorching 37 points in the first half alone – tying the Magic’s single-half record set by none other than Tracy McGrady. “I just wanted to come in with an aggressive mindset and get to the rim,” Banchero said afterward, the excitement still fresh in his voice. “Honestly, I didn’t even know how much I had. I was just out there hooping.”
But just when it seemed like Orlando might cruise to victory, Indiana flipped the script, outscoring the Magic 39-22 in the third quarter. The Pacers, led by a strong showing from Tyrese Haliburton (19 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists), pulled ahead by five points entering the fourth, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown.
As the clock wound down, Orlando tightened up defensively, holding Indiana to just three points in the final four minutes. With the game tied at 115, Jalen Suggs swung the ball to second-year guard Anthony Black in the left corner. Black, cool under pressure, knocked down a decisive three-pointer with 33 seconds remaining, lifting the Magic crowd to its feet. “It started with a rotation up top,” Black recalled. “J [Suggs] could have taken the shot, but he trusted me. It felt great to hit it.”
Suggs, whose sharpshooting (25 points on six threes) complemented Banchero’s brilliance, was quick to share the credit. “This whole group is all about grit,” Suggs said, echoing head coach Jamahl Mosley’s praise for the team’s resilience. Mosley, addressing the media, highlighted his players’ tenacity: “No matter what, these guys found a way. It’s why you’re proud of them.”
The Magic’s 3-1 start has the buzz in Orlando growing, and with this latest win, they’re building momentum as they prepare for a challenging five-game road stretch, beginning in Chicago on Wednesday. With Banchero leading the way, Orlando’s fans might just be seeing the start of something special.