By Luke Sylvia
The Orlando Magic lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 109-106 on Friday night, but the loss didn't hurt too bad thanks to the Paolo Banchero-sized shot in the arm the Magic received.
We knew Banchero would be making his return for the first time in ten weeks after suffering a torn oblique, but we didn't know how he would look, or how many minutes he would play.
Prior to the game, Orlando Magic head coach, Jamahl Mosley told reporters that Banchero would be on a minutes restriction, but he didn't specify the minute total. Later, we found out that Banchero exceeded his 26 minute restriction by a mere 32 seconds.
In his return, Banchero had an impressive 34 points on 11/21 from the field and 5/8 from beyond the arc in 26 minutes.
After the game, I asked Paolo in the postgame press conference how he felt he was able to tally 34 points for just the 11th time in his career.
"I've really been putting a lot of work in over this time of being hurt...they were, just, really going under (screens), and kind of letting me shoot, and you know, I gotta be able to hit those."
With 4:35 left in the game, Paolo Banchero returned to the court as the Magic were down 98-91. Shortly after checking in, he made his presence felt with a triple that energized the Kia Center from the lower to the upper bowl. The three-pointer cut the lead to five with 4 minutes remaining.
Multiple Chances To Take Control
With a three point deficit, the momentum felt like it was going to turn in the Magic's favor after Giannis missed two free throws with 2:25 left, but the shift in energy was short-lived as the Magic had a shot clock violation on the other end.
With 1:29 remaining, Wendell Carter Jr. forced a huge jump ball after Paolo's missed free throw, then Banchero drew another foul -- this time, he knocked down both to cut the Bucks' lead to 2 points.
A few possessions later, Tristan da Silva has a wide open three to put the Magic up by one that doesn't go. On the other end, Brook Lopez is fouled and buries both free throws to put the Bucks up 4.
Then, a missed Banchero mid-range shot turns into a Magic offensive rebound and a Banchero three that bounced on every single part of the rim before dropping in, cutting the Bucks' lead to just 1.
Banchero stepped up to the free throw line with 10 seconds left with a chance to tie the game at 107, but missed the front end before making the second.
Following an odd clock malfunction, the Magic had a chance to force overtime with 0.4 seconds left, but Banchero couldn't get the shot off in time.
Significant Stat Lines (Aside From Paolo)
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined for 70 points, shooting a combined 28-50 from the field.
Tristan da Silva has his first career double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Cole Anthony had 18 points (5-15 FG)
Paolo's Minute Distribution
Last time Banchero was on the court, he typically was playing the entirety of the first quarter. On Friday night, he had a 5 minute stint followed by about a 3 minute stint to end the quarter. The Magic made it clear they were looking to get Banchero acclimated to his role of being the primary option as soon as possible. He was featured as the screener, with an emphasis on getting him the ball early and often. His first bucket since the return was in transition from three, in rhythm.
In the second quarter, he played the first 2 minutes and 27 seconds, then he checked in with 3:44 left in the half. Ultimately, in the second, he logged 6:11 minutes, scoring six points on six shots. Paolo shot 1-4 from three in the first half, and you could tell that he was getting his legs under him still, as he shot short on two of the three misses.
In the third quarter, Banchero saw 5:02 minutes scoring an impressive eight points on six shots.
The final frame is where he logged his most minutes of the night with 7:54 minutes, putting his foot on the gas and dropping 15 points, impressively shooting 3-for-3 from the perimeter.
Injury News
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope didn't return to action in the second half due to a sore left knee.
Eastern Conference Standings Update
Following the Magic loss, the Milwaukee Bucks (20-16) are technically ahead in the standings at 4th, despite having played two less games than Orlando (22-18) thus far. The New York Knicks got blown out by the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday night, so they still remain 3.5 games ahead of Orlando and Milwaukee. The Boston Celtics are 6.5 games up, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are 12.5 games ahead.
Up Next
Paolo Banchero plays basketball again Sunday at Kia Center against the Philadelphia 76ers (15-21), and the Bucks travel to MSG to take on the New York Knicks (25-14), so there's a realistic chance the Orlando Magic regain the 4th spot in the east if they can take care of business at home.
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