by ORLANDO, Fla. – Paolo Banchero had the best night of his career Monday.
Banchero tied the Orlando Magic record for points in a half, scoring 37 in the first two quarters against the Indiana Pacers. He finished with a career-high 50 points, tying the fifth-highest score in Magic history. Orlando won 119-115.
“Man, I’m tired, I’m tired as hell,” Banchero said after the NBA’s first 50-point effort this season. “But it was a hell of a game.”
Banchero, the league’s rookie of the year two seasons ago and an All-Star last year, finished 13 of 17 from the field during the half and finished 16 of 26 from the field. He also had 13 rebounds and nine assists.
“It was just being in the zone,” Banchero said. “It felt like I was in an open gym, back at home, working on my game. Every shot felt like it went in and that’s a good feeling when you “Not every game will be like this, but I’m glad today was.”
At 21 years and 351 days old, Banchero became the youngest player in Magic history to record a 50-point game, and the second-youngest player with 50 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in an NBA game, behind LeBron James (20 years, 80 days) in 2005 against the Toronto Raptors.
Tracy McGrady still holds the franchise’s single-game scoring record, with 62 against the Wizards on March 10, 2004. It was also the last time a Magic player reached 50, meaning the franchise had passed 20 years and 232 days between 50-point games. – the fifth longest drought in NBA history.
Other 50-point games in Magic history: Shaquille O’Neal had 53 against Minnesota on April 20, 1994; McGrady had 52 against Chicago on February 21, 2003; McGrady had 51 against Denver on November 14, 2003; Nick Anderson had 50 against New Jersey on April 23, 1993; and McGrady had another 50 against Washington on March 8, 2002.
Banchero had the most assists (9) and second-most rebounds (13, trailing only 18 by O’Neal) in a 50-point game in Magic history.
His 37 points in the half tied McGrady’s mark, also in the first half, for Orlando against Denver on March 9, 2003.
“This first half was magical, that’s for sure,” Banchero said.
For comparison, the Pacers starters totaled 37 points in the first half.
Banchero’s career high Monday was 43 points, set Jan. 3 against Sacramento. There were four performances of 37 points or more in the first half last season – two from Phoenix’s Devin Booker, one from Karl-Anthony Towns (then of Minnesota, now of New York) and one from Dallas’ Luka Doncic .
ESPN Research and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
