Friday’s game 6 against the Cavaliers was a win-or-go-home one for the Magic. Despite falling behind early on in the series, the Orlando side rallied brilliantly to level the series with their 103-96 win.
One of the key contributors to the win, Paolo Banchero, talked about the mindset of the team going into the final game of the series which will be played on Sunday. Speaking to the media after the game, Banchero said, “It’s awesome. I think going down 2-0 early, you kinda figure that if we had to win, it’s probably going to have to be in seven. It’s a do-or-die situation, so we gotta put in another special effort.”
The Magic forward certainly put in a special effort with his 27 points in game 7, coupled with Franz Wagner‘s 26 points. Banchero’s confident tone was not only because of his performance in game 6, but for his consistency throughout the series.
Paolo Banchero’s Playoff Series in Numbers
The Magic have impressed many critics this season with their team-oriented game, but Banchero has shown his improvement to set himself apart. After scoring 22.6 points per game in the regular season, the 21-year-old continued his form in the postseason.
In game 1, Banchero scored 24 points with 52.9% shooting, which dropped to 45% in the next game, and so did his points tally. The 21-point contribution in game 2 went in vain after the Cavs took a 2-0 lead in the series. With his back against the wall, the former Duke forward exploded in game 3 with 31 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
Though his personal performance graph dropped in game 4 with only 9 points in the bag, he roared back in game 5 with his series-high 39 points in a losing effort.
On Friday, Banchero again displayed a masterful display and entered NBA history alongside Franz Wagner. They became the youngest duo to score 25 plus each in a playoff elimination game. With the do-or-die game ahead, Banchero and Co. surely will hope to secure the franchise’s first-round 2 appearance since 2010.
Also Read: Jalen Suggs Gets Chippy With Georges Niang After Offensive Foul on Magic Guard
