Paolo Banchero Drops 33
The Orlando Magic cruised to a 130-91 blowout over the Milwaukee Bucks, as Paolo Banchero poured in 33 points. The Bucks rested Giannis Antetokounmpo on the second leg of a back-to-back, and Orlando took full advantage, with Jalen Suggs also making a strong contribution. The lopsided victory keeps the Magic in the playoff mix and highlights Banchero's emergence as a franchise player.
Paolo Banchero achieved his 33 points with remarkable efficiency, shooting 12-for-16 from the field. The Magic's lead was so substantial that he did not play at all in the fourth quarter, resting for good late in the third with his team ahead by 31 points. This performance is part of a dominant stretch for the 2022 No. 1 overall pick. Over his last ten games, Banchero has averaged 26.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists while shooting over 50% from the floor. The victory was Orlando's fourth straight, keeping them in the sixth position in the Eastern Conference standings. They remain just one game behind the fifth-place Toronto Raptors as they battle to avoid the play-in tournament. For the Bucks, resting Giannis Antetokounmpo was a precautionary measure. The game was his third since returning from a right calf strain that had previously sidelined him for 15 games. The two-time MVP has missed a career-high 30 games this season. The loss marked Milwaukee's fifth defeat in their last six games. Their struggles were compounded by the absence of their second-leading scorer, Kevin Porter Jr., who missed his third consecutive game with knee swelling.
