<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-rumors-orlando-wants-to-make-25-million-trade-to-help-paolo-banchero');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic rumors: Orlando wants to make $25 million trade to help Paolo Banchero');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Paolo-Banchero-celebrate.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic rumors: Orlando wants to make $25 million trade to help Paolo Banchero</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-03T09:02:00-07:00">June 3rd, 9:02am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-03T09:02:00-07:00">June 3rd, 9:02am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Fresh off unveiling a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-launch-new-era-with-throwback-style-jerseys-for-2025-26-season">franchise rebrand ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season</a>, the Orlando Magic are reportedly exploring trade options to upgrade their offense and support rising stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.</p><p>According to a report from Hardwood Paroxysm, the Magic are shifting into a more aggressive roster-building phase following their first-round playoff exit. The team is said to be targeting multiple offensive-minded players, using up to <a href="https://hardwoodparoxysm.substack.com/p/free-agency-and-draft-rumors-panic" rel="noopener">$25 million in combined salary</a> to facilitate potential trades.</p><p>“Orlando is indeed shifting its approach, as it sounded like in their postseason pressers, towards making major upgrades,” the report stated. “Sources believe they are looking to package around $25 million in salary for various players to give the offense the jump it needs. That sounds right because with Franz and Paolo, any addition making above that likely will demand the ball too much.”</p><p>Orlando finished the 2024-25 season with a 41-41 record, battling through a series of injuries to key players. Banchero and Wagner both missed extended time with torn obliques, while Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner suffered season-ending injuries earlier in the year. Despite the setbacks, the Magic secured a playoff berth, eventually <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-gm-refutes-reports-of-zero-trade-deadline-calls">falling to the Boston Celtics in a competitive five-game series</a>.</p><h2><b>Magic linked to multiple guards amid push to boost offense</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Garland-Passes-Cavs-Magic.jpg"><figcaption>Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>While Orlando once again fielded a top-tier defense, their offensive struggles proved costly. During the regular season, the Magic ranked 27th in scoring at just 105.4 points per game. They also finished last in three-point shooting, averaging 11.2 made threes per game on just 31.8% shooting from beyond the arc.</p><p>The offensive issues became even more pronounced in the postseason. Orlando <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/traditional?SeasonType=Playoffs&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PTS" rel="noopener">ranked last</a> among all 16 playoff teams in points per game at 93.6 and three-point shooting, making only 8.2 threes per game at 26.3% from deep.</p><p>In response to these shortcomings, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-favored-for-potential-darius-garland-trade">Magic have been linked in multiple reports to guards such as Darius Garland</a>, Trae Young, and Anfernee Simons — all of whom could fill Orlando’s glaring need at point guard. However, a more financially feasible option could be Chicago Bulls guard Coby White.</p><p>White, 25, is coming off a career-best season. In 74 games, he averaged 20.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 45.3% from the field and 37% from three. He is entering the final year of his three-year contract and is set to earn $12.8 million next season, potentially making him a logical candidate to fit within Orlando’s reported $25 million trade package range.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/ranking-best-kon-knueppel-destinations-in-2025-nba-draft">Magic currently hold the No. 16 and No. 25 picks in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft</a>, set for June 25–26 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. With a young core led by Banchero and Wagner, and a clear focus on offensive improvement, Orlando’s offseason could prove pivotal in shaping its competitive trajectory moving forward.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic rumors: Orlando wants to make $25 million trade to help Paolo Banchero

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-gets-nsfw-endorsement-kentavious-caldwell-pope');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero gets NSFW endorsement from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-dunks-the-ball-as-Washington-Wizards-forward-Justin-Champagnie-9-defends.jpg"><figcaption>© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero gets NSFW endorsement from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-23T12:40:31-07:00">May 23rd, 12:40pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-23T12:40:31-07:00">May 23rd, 12:40pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has received high praise from many across the NBA, but veteran teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope offered one of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNd2TjFhfwA" rel="noopener">most emphatic endorsements</a> yet — with an NSFW twist.</p><p>During a recent appearance on Above The Rim with DH12, the podcast hosted by newly inducted Hall of Famer Dwight Howard, Caldwell-Pope opened up about his first season in Orlando and praised Banchero’s maturity, basketball IQ, and skill level.</p><p>“He’s a smart young kid,” Caldwell-Pope said. “I was surprised like how he think the game, how it slows down for him… Me coming over there and being a vet for him, I just talked more about what do you see. And he was able to break that down — it was easy for me to help him out.”</p><p>The two-time NBA champion continued with detailed insight into his on-court conversations with the 22-year-old forward, explaining how Banchero’s court vision and offensive versatility make him a unique talent to play alongside.</p><p>“I always tell him, you see a pass, make a pass, because they [are] going to double you every time,” Caldwell-Pope said. “What you’re going to be great at is screening, rolling, getting in that pocket — his mid-range is f**king killer — or when you’re in the post, face up, see what they give you. And him being mentally strong like that, his game just took off.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero’s postseason leap and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s leadership fuel Magic’s rising expectations</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-congratulates-guard-Kentavious-Caldwell-Pope-3-after-a-play.jpg"><figcaption>© Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-trolls-espn-over-old-ranking">Banchero delivered a strong third season for Orlando</a> despite being limited to 46 games due to a torn oblique in the first half of the year. He averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 32 percent from three.</p><p>The former No. 1 overall pick elevated his game even further in the postseason. During Orlando’s five-game series against the Boston Celtics, Banchero averaged 29.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and an impressive 44.4 percent from beyond the arc.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-kentavious-caldwell-pope-leaving-nuggets-for-orlando">Caldwell-Pope, who signed with the Magic last offseason</a> on a three-year, $66 million deal, was brought in to add veteran leadership and championship experience to a young roster led by Banchero and Franz Wagner. While his individual production dipped in 2024–25, Caldwell-Pope remained a respected voice in the locker room and offered a steady defensive presence throughout the year.</p><p>The Magic concluded the regular season with a 41–41 record, capturing their second consecutive Southeast Division title and playoff appearance before <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-backs-orlando-win-now-focus-and-embraces-rising-pressure-after-playoff-exit">falling to the Celtics in the first round</a>. With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-president-drops-win-now-truth-bomb-future">front office signaling a “win-now” approach this offseason</a>, Banchero’s continued development — especially under the guidance of veterans like Caldwell-Pope — remains central to Orlando’s trajectory.</p><p>As the franchise looks to take the next step, Banchero’s blend of size, skill, and poise at such a young age has made him the unquestioned cornerstone of the Magic’s future. And with Caldwell-Pope giving him high marks — mid-range and all — the expectations heading into Year 4 are only growing louder.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Paolo Banchero gets NSFW endorsement from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-shouts-out-2-special-teammates-who-helped-nba-transition');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero shouts out 2 special teammates who helped NBA transition');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Magic-1.jpg"><figcaption>Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero shouts out 2 special teammates who helped NBA transition</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-21T13:24:42-07:00">May 21st, 1:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-21T13:24:42-07:00">May 21st, 1:24pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero recently <a href="https://x.com/HunchoHoops/status/1925245714130440468" rel="noopener">credited</a> two former teammates for helping him navigate the early challenges of his NBA career.</p><p>Speaking on The Pivot Podcast, Banchero reflected on his rookie season after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. The 22-year-old forward said the welcoming environment in Orlando played a major role in his development.</p><p>“They welcomed me with open arms from the second I got there,” Banchero said. “The team was great, I remember first meeting the team at Summer League that year and us doing a dinner… and them being the coolest group of dudes that I’ve ever really been around.”</p><p>Among those who stood out was Markelle Fultz, a fellow former No. 1 overall pick. Fultz spent five seasons with the Magic and played alongside Banchero during his first two years in the league.</p><p>“One is Markelle Fultz, he’s a former No. 1 pick so he understood the shoes that I was in and so he was with me my first two years there. He helped me a ton, man,” Banchero said. “I looked up to Markelle, like watching him – I was in eighth grade when he was at the Dub and so I was at that stage where I was realizing my NBA dreams and to see a dude come to UW and go No. 1 was amazing to me.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero praises Markelle Fultz, Terrence Ross for guiding him through NBA transition</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Paolo-Banchero-5-celebrates-with-point-guard-Markelle-Fultz-20-after-defeating-the-Golden-State-Warriors.jpg"><figcaption>© Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Fultz provided a steady voice during the ups and downs of Banchero’s early career.</p><p>“When I didn’t play well or when I had a rough night or whatever, I would take it super hard,” Banchero said. “He would always be the guy to pull me to the side and just be like, ‘relax bro, it’s 82 games. You ain’t about to have a great game every night.’ He was just like that calming presence… he understood more than anybody just how all this can affect you.”</p><p>Fultz, 26, was not re-signed by Orlando following the 2023–24 season. He later <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-news-markelle-fultz-agrees-sacramento-contract">joined the Sacramento Kings late in the 2024–25 regular season</a>. In 21 games with the Kings, he averaged 2.9 points, 1.3 assists, and one rebound in 8.8 minutes per contest.</p><p>Banchero also praised Terrence Ross for his mentorship during his rookie year. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-terrence-ross-retirement-13-seasons">Ross, who spent seven seasons with the Magic, retired after the 2022–23 campaign</a>.</p><p>“Another guy was Terrence Ross… another UW guy actually, who I watched growing up a lot,” Banchero said. “He helped me a lot too because he had been there for eight years in Orlando. I looked up to him too… and he would just keep it straightforward.”</p><p>Ross offered honest, constructive feedback Banchero trusted.</p><p>“I would go to him and ask him what he thought about how I was playing, what I could do better,” Banchero said. “T-Ross is one of the chillest dudes ever and so I knew it was coming from the right place.”</p><p>Ross, 34, played 63 games between the Magic and Phoenix Suns in his final season. He averaged 12.7 points, three rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game across 349 appearances with Orlando, shooting 41.4% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero shouts out 2 special teammates who helped NBA transition

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-knicks-example-next-step-contend');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero drops Knicks example for Magic to take next step to contend');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Paolo-Banchero-says-Magic-need-to-follow-the-Knicks-model.jpg"><figcaption>© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero drops Knicks example for Magic to take next step to contend</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-20T12:19:47-07:00">May 20th, 12:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-20T12:19:47-07:00">May 20th, 12:19pm</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/magic-news-paolo-banchero-fires-back-at-any-silver-linings-to-playoff-experience">Orlando Magic being eliminated from the NBA playoffs</a>, Paolo Banchero is the promising piece, alongside Franz Wagner and others on the roster.</p><p>However, the former No. 1 overall pick thinks that Orlando can reach another level. On The Pivot Podcast, the Magic star forward <a href="https://youtu.be/wf6Y-DxO5fU?t=1602" rel="noopener">gave his organization a blueprint</a> for who they should follow.</p><p>“I see some of these teams like the (New York) Knicks or the (Cleveland) Cavaliers,” Banchero said. “The Knicks, they’ve been in the playoffs the last couple of years, but they went and got some guys, and I think their mind is, they’re trying to win for the playoffs.</p><p>“And Boston, they’re trying to win for the playoffs. You can just feel that when you play against some of those teams. So I think that’s our next step.”</p><p>Three of those teams acquired superstar talent, but made the roster extremely deep. The Knicks, Celtics, and Cavaliers were the respective Top 3 seeds in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>For the Magic, they were the seventh after dealing with injuries. Still, they managed to win one game against Boston with the young core. Still, Banchero thinks there is more work to do.</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero sees the Magic following the Knicks’ model</b></h2><p>New York was <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/knicks-2023-24-season-recap-065300839.html" rel="noopener">in a similar position</a> in 2024. After they lost Jalen Brunson to a hand injury in the semifinals, they fell to the Indiana Pacers in seven games.</p><p>As a result, they went out and reloaded in a major way. For instance, the Knicks traded for both Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns.</p><p>Although they lost key pieces like Isaiah Hartenstein, they managed to reload.</p><p>For the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-backs-orlando-win-now-focus-and-embraces-rising-pressure-after-playoff-exit">Magic, they might need to do some of that</a>. Considering how close Orlando was to being a Top 4 seed before the injuries, securing another star next to Banchero and Wagner would do the trick.</p><p>Regardless of that, Banchero still reflected and was honest about what the team should work on.</p><p>“I think health, but also just learning from these last two years,” Banchero said. “We’ve been out of the first round these first two years in the playoffs. Why is that?</p><p>“What do we need to work on, what are some of our deficiencies, what are some of our strengths? And how does that translate into winning in the playoffs? I think that’s the biggest thing, not only focusing on the regular season success, but how can we be successful in the playoffs.”</p><p>No matter what, the Magic are in a prime position to take that next step. Using New York as a blueprint could be a major blessing for Orlando.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero drops Knicks example for Magic to take next step to contend

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-trolls-espn-over-old-ranking');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero trolls ESPN over old ranking');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-reacts-after-a-play-against-the-Atlanta-Hawks.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero trolls ESPN over old ranking</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-17T15:28:04-07:00">May 17th, 3:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-17T15:28:37-07:00">May 17th, 3:28pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-backs-orlando-win-now-focus-and-embraces-rising-pressure-after-playoff-exit">Orlando Magic shift into a pivotal offseason with a “win-now” mentality</a>, star forward Paolo Banchero took a moment to revisit his past. In a post shared this week on X, formerly known as Twitter, Banchero <a href="https://x.com/Pp_doesit/status/1923853502184353923" rel="noopener">responded</a> to resurfaced high school highlights with a pointed jab at ESPN’s 2021 player rankings.</p><p>“and espn had me ranked 4th in my class,” Banchero wrote in the caption, referencing the now-viral footage, followed by laughing emojis.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">and espn had me ranked 4th in my class🤣🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/tAb8ONRTa2">https://t.co/tAb8ONRTa2</a></p><p>— Paolo Banchero (@Pp_doesit) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pp_doesit/status/1923853502184353923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>In ESPN’s final rankings for the 2021 recruiting class, Banchero was <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/playerrankings/_/class/2021/order/true" rel="noopener">listed</a> fourth behind Chet Holmgren, Jaden Hardy, and Emoni Bates. Despite the lower placement at the time, Banchero was selected No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2022 NBA Draft.</p><p>Since then, he has quickly emerged as one of the league’s most promising young players. Banchero won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award in 2023 and earned his first All-Star selection in 2024. He followed up with a strong 2024-25 campaign, averaging 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on 45.2 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent from three-point range. His season was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-orlando-paolo-banchero-primed-for-growth-after-injury-plagued-season">limited to 46 games due to a torn oblique</a>, but his production remained elite when on the court.</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero’s rise contrasts former top-ranked peers as Magic shift focus to title contention</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Paolo-Banchero-celebrate.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Now three seasons into his career, Banchero has helped guide Orlando to back-to-back playoff appearances, including a 47-win campaign in 2023-24 — the franchise’s highest win total since the 2010-11 season.</p><p>In contrast, the players who ranked ahead of him in that 2021 ESPN list have experienced varied trajectories.</p><p>Holmgren, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, has become a key contributor for a rising Thunder team currently in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. He will play in a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-oklahoma-city-receives-pressure-warning-for-game-7">decisive Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday</a>.</p><p>Hardy, drafted 37th overall in the second round by the Sacramento Kings and later acquired by the Dallas Mavericks, has yet to carve out a consistent role. He averaged 8.7 points in 15.9 minutes per game during the regular season and has seen limited usage in the postseason.</p><p>Bates, once hailed as a generational prospect, fell to the 49th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and has struggled to find playing time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He appeared in just 10 games during the 2024-25 season, averaging 7.5 minutes per contest.</p><p>Banchero’s subtle dig comes as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-what-franz-wagner-is-focused-on-amid-orlando-win-now-approach">Magic prepare for an offseason where expectations are rising</a>. Both President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-gm-refutes-reports-of-zero-trade-deadline-calls">General Manager Anthony Parker have emphasized that Orlando is ready to pivot</a> from development to contention. With Banchero at the center of that movement, his track record continues to validate the Magic’s decision to draft him first overall — regardless of where he once stood in ESPN’s rankings.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Paolo Banchero trolls ESPN over old ranking

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-backs-orlando-win-now-focus-and-embraces-rising-pressure-after-playoff-exit');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero backs Magic’s ‘win-now’ focus and embraces rising pressure after playoff exit');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-reacts-after-basket-against-the-Atlanta-Hawks.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero backs Magic’s ‘win-now’ focus and embraces rising pressure after playoff exit</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-01T10:33:09-07:00">May 1st, 10:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-01T10:33:09-07:00">May 1st, 10:33am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero expressed full support for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-gm-makes-aggressive-offseason-promise-after-quiet-trade-deadline-backfires">franchise’s shift toward a “win-now” mentality</a>, following comments made earlier Thursday by team president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman. Speaking during his exit interview, Banchero reflected on the team’s first-round playoff exit to the defending champion Boston Celtics and addressed the growing expectations surrounding both his own development and the team’s future.</p><p>“Yeah, it definitely excites me to hear that, you know, we are trying to win now,” Banchero <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I think that’s always been the goal, but to hear him say it I think is good, and I’m looking forward to whatever happens. At the end of the day, we all want to win, so whatever is being done to contribute to winning more games and winning in the postseason, I’m all for it.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero reflects on injury-riddled season and late surge as Magic persevere through adversity</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-dribbles-the-ball-against-Boston-Celtics-guard-Jaylen-Brown-7.jpg"><figcaption>© Eric Canha-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-fires-back-at-any-silver-linings-to-playoff-experience">Magic’s 2024-25 season concluded with a 120-89 loss to Boston in Game 5</a> of their first-round series. Despite the early exit, the team battled through a challenging year marked by injuries to key players. Banchero and Franz Wagner each sustained torn oblique injuries that limited them to 46 and 60 games, respectively. Jalen Suggs (35 games) and Moritz Wagner (30 games) both suffered season-ending injuries earlier in the year. Even with those setbacks, Orlando finished with a 41-41 record, won the Southeast Division for the second straight season, and clinched a playoff berth through the NBA Play-In Tournament.</p><p>“I would just say how tough of a year it was, how many ups and downs there were, but also how we responded,” Banchero said. “The stuff that we went through and just how we were able to still make the best of it. I think the guys in the locker room, we really stuck together through some tough times and got us to where we ended up.”</p><p>Banchero averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 32 percent from three across 46 appearances. After missing two months with the oblique injury, the 22-year-old found his rhythm late in the year. Following the All-Star break, he posted 29.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 47.3 percent shooting — <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-orlando-paolo-banchero-primed-for-growth-after-injury-plagued-season">second only to MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</a> in scoring over that span.</p><p>“I think it was a little disappointing for me just going down with the injury and then coming back and having to work my way into shape,” Banchero said. “But I think I was happy with how I was able to respond and finish strong.”</p><h2><b>Banchero embraces rising pressure and reaffirms commitment to Orlando ahead of pivotal offseason</b></h2><p>With back-to-back first-round exits now in the rearview, Banchero acknowledged that expectations for the 2025-26 season will rise.</p><p>“Yeah, I think every year builds more pressure,” he said. “There’s definitely more pressure after this year because, like you say, you go out two years in the first round. Next year, you don’t want to go out in the first round. I think that would be looked at as not a success. So now, the mindset is, how can we do everything it takes to make sure that’s not the case?”</p><p>Looking ahead, Banchero is also eligible for a five-year, $246 million rookie max extension this offseason, a figure that could increase to $296 million if he earns an All-NBA selection next year. Despite the rising stakes, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick made it clear he feels at home in Orlando.</p><p>“I mean, I love it here, man,” Banchero said. “It’s a place that I love spending time. My family loves spending time here. I couldn’t be more happy to be a part of the Orlando Magic. So, I look forward to spending a lot more years here.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero backs Magic’s ‘win-now’ focus and embraces rising pressure after playoff exit

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-orlando-paolo-banchero-primed-for-growth-after-injury-plagued-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Magic, Paolo Banchero are primed for immediate growth after injury-plagued season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Franz-Wagner-Paolo-Banchero.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Why Magic, Paolo Banchero are primed for immediate growth after injury-plagued season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-30T13:57:48-07:00">April 30th, 1:57pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-30T13:57:48-07:00">April 30th, 1:57pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-jamahl-mosley-slam-officiating-after-season-ending-loss">Orlando Magic’s 2024-25 season came to an end Tuesday night with a 120-89 loss</a> to the defending champion Boston Celtics in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. Despite the early exit, there is substantial optimism surrounding the franchise’s trajectory, led by Paolo Banchero and a young core poised for immediate growth.</p><p>Banchero, in his third NBA season, delivered a standout campaign despite being limited to just 46 games due to a torn oblique earlier in the year. The 22-year-old averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range. Following the All-Star break, Banchero elevated his production to 29.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 47.3 percent shooting — second only to MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in post-break scoring.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-fires-back-at-any-silver-linings-to-playoff-experience">Banchero’s impact extended into the postseason</a>. In the five-game series against Boston, he averaged 29.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three. It marked his second consecutive playoff series with rising production under postseason pressure.</p><h2><b>Franz Wagner steps up alongside Paolo Banchero as Magic’s defense holds vs. Celtics despite key injuries</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Franz-Wagner-shoots-against-Boston-Celtics-center-Kristaps-Porzingis.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Alongside Banchero, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-franz-wagner-makes-guarantee-after-hard-fought-playoff-loss-to-celtics">Franz Wagner also emerged as a critical piece</a>. Wagner, 23, missed a portion of the season with a torn oblique but still posted career-high averages of 24.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game across 60 appearances. In the playoffs, Wagner delivered 25.8 points, 5.6 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 44.3 percent overall — redeeming himself after a difficult 2024 postseason.</p><p>Defensively, Orlando maintained its identity. The Magic held the Celtics, who averaged 116.3 points and 17.8 threes per game on 36.8 percent shooting during the regular season, to just 106.4 points per game in the series and 11.8 threes per game — though Boston’s efficiency remained slightly higher at 37.8 percent.</p><p>Injuries to key contributors further highlight Orlando’s resilience. Jalen Suggs, who averaged a career-high 16.2 points, four rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, was limited to just 35 games after suffering a season-ending injury earlier in the season. Moritz Wagner, who averaged a career-high 12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 56.2% from the field and 36% from three, was limited to 30 games after sustaining a torn ACL early in the year. Despite missing two of their top four scorers, the Magic remained competitive all year long.</p><h2><b>Banchero, Wagner stress higher expectations as Jamahl Mosley urges reflection after playoff exit</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-drives-the-ball-to-the-basket-against-the-Boston-Celtics.jpg"><figcaption>© David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Following the loss, Paolo Banchero was blunt in his assessment of the season’s conclusion.</p><p>“We wanted to go to the second round. I don’t think anyone is necessarily happy that we didn’t get blown out in four games. That wasn’t the goal,” he said. “The goal was to win and go to the second round. I’m not taking any moral victories from this series.”</p><p>Wagner echoed the sentiment, pointing to Orlando’s defensive effort and the thin margin separating the two teams.</p><p>“We saw how effective our defense is against one of the best teams in the league,” he said. “A bunch of close games… one or two possessions sometimes can make a big difference.”</p><p>Head coach Jamahl Mosley emphasized the importance of reflection heading into the offseason.</p><p>“You have to reflect on it as you go forward this summer and not look at an excuse, but how do you improve on what you need to do for the next season,” Mosley said.</p><h2><b>Offensive struggles doom Magic despite quality looks as young core positions team for next step</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kentavious-Caldwell-Pope-3-shoots-a-three-point-basket-during-the-second-half-against-the-Atlanta-Hawks.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While defense carried Orlando, offensive limitations were evident. The Magic finished the regular season ranked 27th in scoring (105.4 points per game) and dead last in three-point shooting percentage (31.8) and makes (11.2 per game). In the playoffs, those struggles deepened—Orlando averaged just 93.6 points per game, hit a league-low 26.3 percent from beyond the arc, and made only 8.2 threes per game — the only team in the playoffs to <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/traditional?SeasonType=Playoffs&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FG3M" rel="noopener">average fewer than 10 made threes</a> per contest.</p><p>The shooting woes were <a href="https://x.com/OMagicDaily/status/1917606493840421285" rel="noopener">particularly stark</a> in Game 5. According to Orlando Magic Daily, the team went 8-for-38 from three, including 19 consecutive misses spanning the second and third quarters. They shot just 5-for-25 on “wide-open” threes and 3-for-13 on “open” looks. All 38 of their attempts were classified as either open or wide-open, underscoring the disconnect between shot quality and shot-making.</p><p>Still, with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner both under 24 and performing at a high level, the foundation remains strong. Orlando will enter the offseason with a healthy cap situation, multiple first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, and the assets to upgrade its roster. After battling the reigning champions and showing growth despite injuries, the Magic appear well-positioned to take the next step.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Magic, Paolo Banchero are primed for immediate growth after injury-plagued season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-fires-back-at-any-silver-linings-to-playoff-experience');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero fires back at any silver linings to Magic’s playoff experience');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-drives-the-ball-to-the-basket-against-the-Boston-Celtics.jpg"><figcaption>© David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero fires back at any silver linings to Magic’s playoff experience</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-30T10:29:02-07:00">April 30th, 10:29am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-30T10:29:02-07:00">April 30th, 10:29am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-8-word-message-eliminating-magic-game-5">Orlando Magic’s 2024-25 season came to an end Tuesday night with a 120-89 loss</a> to the defending champion Boston Celtics in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. For third-year forward Paolo Banchero, the result left little room for optimism.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-jamahl-mosley-slam-officiating-after-season-ending-loss">Banchero, who was limited to 30 minutes due to foul trouble</a>, finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. He picked up his fifth foul early in the third quarter, which contributed to a momentum shift that allowed the Celtics to pull away.</p><p>Despite his performance and the team’s competitive efforts throughout much of the series, Banchero pushed back against the idea that Orlando’s showing against Boston offered any moral victories.</p><p>“I don’t know, really. We lost 4-1. That’s all I can really say,” Banchero <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">said postgame</a>. “We wanted to go to the second round. I don’t think anyone is necessarily happy that we didn’t get blown out in four games. That wasn’t the goal. The goal was to win and go to the second round. I’m not taking any moral victories from this series. The goal was to win.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero’s growth on display as Magic go toe-to-toe with Celtics in first-round series</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jayson-Tatum-0-defends-against-Orlando-Magic-forward-Paolo-Banchero-5-in-the-second-quarter-1.jpg"><figcaption>© David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Banchero concluded his second postseason appearance with standout numbers. Across five games, he averaged 29.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range. His consistency and expanded playmaking responsibilities were a central component of the Magic’s game plan.</p><p>While Banchero remained focused on the result, head coach Jamahl Mosley pointed to his star player’s growth over the course of the series.</p><p>“I think he’s grown a ton, and he’s gonna continue to grow,” Mosley said. “I think his ability to put a lot of that burden on his shoulders to try to do the right thing, to put guys in position to perform at a high level, understanding how defenses are covering him, what he needs to do and how he’s able to do that.”</p><p>Mosley added that Banchero’s postseason experience offers a blueprint for future development.</p><p>“This is a time that when you look back to [the] summer you reflect on it — exactly how we’re gonna have to work, what the things we’re gonna have to do,” Mosley said. “It’s ultimate growth for him and for all of our young guys to see what exactly they need to do moving forward because you just went toe-to-toe with the champs for five games – and understanding that you’re right there in each game and there’s just small margins of error.”</p><h2><b>Jamahl Mosley stresses growth and reflection as Magic turn focus to future after playoff exit</b></h2><p>The series marked Orlando’s second consecutive first-round appearance, following last season’s 47-35 campaign that ended with a seven-game loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Magic finished this season 41-41, hampered by injuries early in the year, but remained competitive throughout the playoffs behind the leadership of Banchero and a resilient young core.</p><p>Mosley emphasized that the postseason loss should be used as a lesson rather than an excuse.</p><p>“You have to reflect on it as you go forward this summer and not look at an excuse, but how do you improve,” Mosley said. “What did they do so well that you gave yourself a chance, but you didn’t get over the hump? I think you have to be able to look back and reflect on specific things — as players and as coaches — to be able to see what we need to do better and how we can get over that hump.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero fires back at any silver linings to Magic’s playoff experience

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-jamahl-mosley-slam-officiating-after-season-ending-loss');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero, Jamahl Mosley slam officiating after Magic’s season-ending loss');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-on-the-court-after-a-play-against-the-Boston-Celtics-in-the-third-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero, Jamahl Mosley slam officiating after Magic’s season-ending loss</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-30T09:08:53-07:00">April 30th, 9:08am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-30T09:08:53-07:00">April 30th, 9:08am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-8-word-message-eliminating-magic-game-5">Orlando Magic’s season came to an abrupt end Tuesday night with a 120-89 loss</a> to the defending champion Boston Celtics in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. But following the defeat, attention quickly shifted from the scoreboard to the officiating.</p><p>Magic forward Paolo Banchero, who finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in just 30 minutes, was plagued by foul trouble throughout the night. He picked up his fifth personal foul with 9:46 remaining in the third quarter on an and-one layup by Jaylen Brown. At the time of the call, the Magic led by two points. Orlando challenged the foul, but the challenge was unsuccessful.</p><p>“It was tough. Never really had anything like that happen before,” Banchero <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">said postgame</a>. “I was trying my best not to foul. I knew I had four fouls… I felt like I stopped short of him going up and he went up with his elbows out, hit me in the face and they called it on me. Then, he did the same thing to Cory Joseph, they called it on Cory. So, I’m not sure what that rule is… maybe I had a misunderstanding of what the rule is there, but I was trying my best not to foul.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero, Jamahl Mosley call out officiating after pivotal third-quarter stretch</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jayson-Tatum-0-defends-against-Orlando-Magic-forward-Paolo-Banchero-5-in-the-second-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Banchero expressed frustration with how quickly the fouls were called.</p><p>“I’ve never in my career, NBA or before, picked up three fouls that quickly,” he said. “So, I told the refs that, I told him how I felt. I told him that two of the three weren’t fouls, but they saw it a different way.”</p><p>The fifth foul, in particular, changed the course of the game. After Banchero exited, the Celtics went on a decisive run to close the third quarter, outscoring the Magic 36-13.</p><p>“They opened the game up,” Banchero said. “But I mean, that’s what happens. If I’m able to be in the game, that doesn’t happen. We was playing well, but it wasn’t in the cards for us.”</p><p>Head coach Jamahl Mosley echoed Banchero’s sentiments and <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">expressed concern</a> over the lack of consistency in officiating during the game.</p><p>“What I saw was the fact that he was driving to the basket and not getting calls,” Mosley said. “In those moments, there’s a level of frustration that can kick in when they’re impeding your progress to the rim. And so, they give him one charge and then they give another one where it’s a touch foul. Then at the same time he’s going to the rim, they’re bodying him out of the way and there’s no call.”</p><h2><b>Controversial fifth foul on Banchero swings momentum as Magic fall to Celtics in series-ending loss</b></h2><p>Mosley was particularly critical of the call that resulted in Banchero’s fifth foul.</p><p>“It definitely swung the series, it definitely swung the game,” he said. “I have no idea what the explanation was. It was, ‘He came into his path.’ All I saw was Paolo getting an elbow to the face or backed into the face and he got the foul. That was a game changer right there. Your best player picks up his fifth foul in the third quarter. It becomes tough to come back from that moment.”</p><p>Despite the loss and controversial officiating, Mosley credited his team for continuing to compete, but acknowledged Boston’s execution down the stretch.</p><p>“We missed a ton of shots,” he said. “They did a helluva job getting down on the break and hitting some big shots in that situation.”</p><p>The Magic now head into the offseason following their second consecutive playoff appearance, having also <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-joins-exclusive-lebron-james-company-in-game-7-loss-to-cavs">reached the first round last year before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers</a>. Led by rising star Paolo Banchero and a young core, Orlando showed clear growth throughout the season despite the disappointing finish in Boston.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero, Jamahl Mosley slam officiating after Magic’s season-ending loss

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-sheds-light-paolo-banchero-relationship-eliminating-magic');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jayson Tatum sheds light on Paolo Banchero relationship after Celtics eliminate Magic');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Magic-forward-Paolo-Banchero-and-Celtics-forward-Jayson-Tatum.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Jayson Tatum sheds light on Paolo Banchero relationship after Celtics eliminate Magic</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-30T07:31:24-07:00">April 30th, 7:31am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-30T07:31:24-07:00">April 30th, 7:31am</time><address><a>Owen Crisafulli</a>Owen Crisafulli is a Senior Editor and NFL Lead at ClutchPoints. He recently received his Masters in Business Administration from Nichols College. Previously, he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management and for a while ran his own sports website. Sports are his passion, and he thoroughly enjoys writing about thoughts and opinions that are related to the game. He has been a lifelong fan of the major professional teams in Boston and loves discussing all topics surrounding those teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Boston Celtics eliminated the Orlando Magic from the 2025 NBA Playoffs on Tuesday night with a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/beantown-rundown-3-thoughts-celtics-game-5-blowout-magic">blowout 120-89 victory in Game 5</a>. For much of the series, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/celtics-news-how-jayson-tatum-made-nba-playoff-history-big-game-4-magic">Jayson Tatum</a> was squaring off against one of his close friends, Paolo Banchero, and after sending them packing, Tatum opened up on his relationship with Orlando’s star forward.</p><p>Tatum has taken on a mentorship role of sorts with Banchero, and it’s not hard to see why. Both guys played one year of college basketball at Duke before making the leap to the NBA, and as strong forwards who can do a little bit of everything, they have fairly similar styles of play. Tatum admitted he <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1917446507105583564" rel="noopener">did not speak</a> to Banchero at all during this series, but he also said he’s happy to see how good of a player he has become for Orlando.</p><p>“I got to talk to him a little bit in the hallway after the game. I didn’t say two words to him during the series. It’s tough, but that’s part of competing, just trying to have that edge throughout the series, but I couldn’t be happier for him and the player that he’s become,” Tatum said of Banchero after Game 5.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“I got to talk to him a little bit in the hallway after the game. I didn't say two words to him during the series… I couldn't be happier for him and the player that he's become.”</p><p>Jayson Tatum on being a mentor to Paolo Banchero 🙌</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/danield1214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danield1214</a>) <a href="https://t.co/4f2TY6UmEJ">pic.twitter.com/4f2TY6UmEJ</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1917446507105583564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Jayson Tatum, Celtics eye second round after eliminating Paolo Banchero, Magic</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jayson-Tatum-and-Paolo-Banchero.jpg"><figcaption>© Eric Canha-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Even though he missed Game 2 due to a wrist injury, Tatum was the most important player on the floor for the Celtics in this series, averaging 31.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. Every night, he seemed to be engaged in a battle with Banchero, who was really the only reason Orlando was able to remain competitive with Boston in this series, as he averaged 29.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.</p><p>While Tatum gave Banchero the cold shoulder during this series, that’s simply a result of him being locked in and doing what he needs to in order to help the Celtics make it to the next round. That goal has been accomplished, as Boston will turn their attention towards the second round now, where they will face off against either the New York Knicks or Detroit Pistons.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jayson Tatum sheds light on Paolo Banchero relationship after Celtics eliminate Magic

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-embraces-workload-as-orlando-aim-to-force-game-6-vs-celtics');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero embraces heavy workload as Magic aim to force Game 6 vs. Celtics');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-and-Boston-Celtics-forward-Jayson-Tatum-0-wait-for-a-break.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero embraces heavy workload as Magic aim to force Game 6 vs. Celtics</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-29T12:38:41-07:00">April 29th, 12:38pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-29T12:38:41-07:00">April 29th, 12:38pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-joe-mazzulla-downplays-magics-physicality-arrested">Orlando Magic are facing elimination as they prepare for Game 5</a> of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV.</p><p>Down 3-1 in the series, Orlando will rely heavily on third-year forward Paolo Banchero, who has shouldered a significant two-way burden throughout the series. Speaking after shootaround on Tuesday, Banchero addressed the intensity of his role and expressed confidence in his ability to carry the load.</p><p>“It’s exhausting but as a hooper, you love it,” Banchero told the Orlando Sentinel. “You’re never going to tell the coach to take you out of the game. At least me, I’m never going to shy away from taking the shots. Those games where you have that heavy of a usage and you’re guarding the other team’s best player, it’s a helluva challenge but it’s something that I’m not afraid to step up in and take on.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero’s postseason production anchors Magic as they look to stay alive in Game 5 vs. Celtics</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-shoots-the-ball-against-the-Boston-Celtics-in-the-second-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Banchero has been one of the standout performers of the postseason. Through four games, he is averaging 32 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and one block per game. He is logging 41.9 minutes per contest and shooting 44 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from three-point range.</p><p>In the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-how-jayson-tatum-made-nba-playoff-history-big-game-4-magic">Magic’s 107-99 loss to Boston in Game 4</a>, Banchero delivered another strong performance with 31 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one block. Despite the defeat, his consistency on both ends of the floor has been central to Orlando’s competitive efforts against the defending champions.</p><p>Looking ahead to Game 5, Banchero <a href="https://x.com/therealBeede/status/1917252294371877187" rel="noopener">expressed belief</a> in his teammates and their ability to respond under pressure.</p><p>“Everybody’s excited for the challenge and they’re ready to come in here, do what it takes to get a win and force it back to Orlando,” he said.</p><p>Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley also spoke about the stakes of Tuesday’s matchup, drawing a comparison to the team’s elimination game victory last season against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.</p><p>“It’s very similar,” Mosley said. “Just being able to understand the emotions of the game, you can control only what you can control, focusing on us. The small margins within this game are going to be huge. We know the energy that they’re going to bring. We know what the crowd is going to bring. But can we keep our attention focused on us and how we have to approach this tonight?”</p><p>If the Magic manage to extend the series with a win in Boston, they will return home to the KIA Center for Game 6 on Thursday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero embraces heavy workload as Magic aim to force Game 6 vs. Celtics

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-jamahl-mosley-paolo-banchero-highlight-contributor-from-game-3-win');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jamahl Mosley, Paolo Banchero highlight under-the-radar contributor from Magic’s Game 3 win');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-brings-the-ball-up-court-against-Boston-Celtics-guard-Derrick-White.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Jamahl Mosley, Paolo Banchero highlight under-the-radar contributor from Magic’s Game 3 win</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-26T09:21:17-07:00">April 26th, 9:21am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-26T09:21:17-07:00">April 26th, 9:21am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-gushes-over-franz-wagner-game-3-performance">Orlando Magic picked up a crucial 95-93 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 3</a> of their first-round playoff series on Friday night. While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-jamahl-mosley-credits-paolo-banchero-franz-wagner-trait-game-3-win">Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner delivered standout performances</a>, it was Anthony Black’s under-the-radar impact that helped push the Magic across the finish line.</p><p>Banchero, who finished with 29 points, six rebounds, two steals, and an assist while shooting 7-for-8 from the free throw line, spoke postgame about Black’s importance in the victory.</p><p>“I think he just boosted our team with his intensity on defense, his aggressiveness guarding the ball,” Banchero <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I think he set the tone when he got those two straight steals in the backcourt, you know, those are big plays in the playoffs, tone setting plays for the whole team so that’s just what we ask out of him and he did a great job of stepping up to the challenge.”</p><p>Black provided a strong spark off the bench, finishing with nine points, two rebounds, and two steals while recording a team-high +16 plus-minus in Game 3. Though his overall series averages of 7.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game on 40% shooting do not immediately stand out, Black’s defensive impact has been undeniable. He currently owns a 107.4 defensive rating in the series and accounts for 33.3% of the Magic’s total steals. Additionally, Black has been effective one-on-one, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/opponent?dir=A&amp;sort=OPP_FG_PCT" rel="noopener">holding his matchups</a> to just 42.3% shooting from the field.</p><h2><b>Anthony Black’s defensive spark helps Magic clamp down on Celtics in Game 3 win</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Anthony-Black-defends-Boston-Celtics-guard-Jaylen-Brown.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley also <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">highlighted</a> Black’s contributions, particularly the defensive intensity he brought during a critical stretch of Game 3.</p><p>“I thought he was great, I really do,” Mosley said. “I thought that when he and Gary [Harris] came in the game, they changed it. The first pickup to the denial, almost getting a five second count, getting the steal, his intensity, his length. I think he just does a heck of a job guarding and he almost had the other steal but then the challenge came and they called a foul on it. But again, this young man has done a great job of continuing to guard, continuing to step into his role and whatever is asked of him.”</p><p>The Magic leaned heavily on their defensive execution to pull out the win, holding the Celtics to just 93 points, including a season-low 11 points allowed in the third quarter. Black’s activity, particularly his ability to pressure Boston’s guards and disrupt passing lanes, helped shift the momentum in Orlando’s favor after a sluggish first half.</p><p>With Black, Gary Harris, and the Magic’s bench making key contributions, Orlando has kept the series competitive despite facing the defending champions. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/schedule/upcoming">Magic will look to build on the momentum and even the series when they host Game 4</a> against the Celtics on Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. ET on TNT before the series shifts back to Boston for Game 5.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jamahl Mosley, Paolo Banchero highlight under-the-radar contributor from Magic’s Game 3 win

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-jamahl-mosley-credits-paolo-banchero-franz-wagner-trait-game-3-win');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jamahl Mosley credits key Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner trait that led to Magic’s Game 3 win');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-drives-around-Boston-Celtics-guard-Derrick-White.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Jamahl Mosley credits key Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner trait that led to Magic’s Game 3 win</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-26T08:34:20-07:00">April 26th, 8:34am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-26T08:34:20-07:00">April 26th, 8:34am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-gushes-over-franz-wagner-game-3-performance">Orlando Magic secured a critical 95-93 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 3</a> of their first-round playoff series on Friday night, riding standout performances from Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to cut the series deficit to 2-1. Following the victory, head coach Jamahl Mosley praised the leadership and resilience of his young stars as a decisive factor in the team’s ability to deliver under pressure.</p><p>“They’ve been great. Their communication, their toughness, their resilience, their ability to just stay the course no matter what’s happening in the game,” Mosley <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">said</a> postgame. “And then playing off of one another, getting into the huddles, it’s big when one guy can say no, get him the ball, no you give him the ball… and that’s just the care they have for one another, but also wanting to do the right thing no matter what it takes. If one guy’s got it going, you let them have it and then let them make plays off of each other.”</p><p>Banchero and Wagner have anchored the Magic throughout the series. Through three games, Banchero is averaging 32.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block per game, shooting 46.8% from the field and 47.8% from beyond the arc. Wagner, meanwhile, has been equally critical, averaging 26.7 points, 5.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 43.7% from the field.</p><h2><b>Jamahl Mosley praises Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero’s toughness and heavy minutes in Magic’s Game 3 win</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Franz-Wagner-dunks-against-the-Boston-Celtics-during-the-second-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-franz-wagner-heroics-orlando-takes-game-3-celtics">Wagner played a pivotal role in Game 3</a>, delivering the final four points for the Magic in the closing minutes to edge out the Celtics. He finished the night with 32 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and two steals, while going 7-for-12 from the free throw line. Wagner logged 38 minutes, showcasing his endurance throughout the night. Banchero, meanwhile, played 42 minutes, once again serving as the centerpiece of Orlando’s offense and defense.</p><p>The pair also made franchise history with their performances. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have each scored 20 or more points in three consecutive games, becoming just the second set of Magic teammates to do so in a playoff series. They join Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee Hardaway, who accomplished the feat during the 1995 NBA Finals and the 1996 Eastern Conference Semifinals.</p><p>Jamahl Mosley praised both players for pushing through fatigue and maintaining a high level of play in critical moments.</p><p>“A lot. I mean his resilience, I think there was a time [when] one of the coaches came to me and said, ‘Yo, Franz has run 16 minutes straight,’ and that’s okay,” Mosley said. “That’s the toughness that he had. Paolo did the same thing the other night. That’s what these guys are willing and wanting to do in order to make sure that we come away with the victory.”</p><p>Banchero, who tallied 29 points, six rebounds, two steals, and an assist while shooting 7-for-8 from the free throw line, also praised Wagner’s effort.</p><p>“I would say really gutsy,” Banchero said. “He was locked in from start to finish on both sides of the ball, just being ultra aggressive on both sides of the floor.”</p><h2><b>Magic break through Celtics’ defense as Wagner delivers in the clutch</b></h2><p>Wagner reflected on his late-game approach, pointing to the Celtics’ switching defense and Orlando’s ability to exploit favorable matchups.</p><p>“They switched a ton as well,” Wagner said. “I felt like that was a good matchup for us and you know, once that first one went in, the end of the games a little slower and you’re just kind of looking for any advantage. So, I thought it was good that we went right back to it.”</p><p>The Magic also received key contributions from Wendell Carter Jr., who finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds, an assist, and a block, as well as Anthony Black, who added nine points, two rebounds, and two steals off the bench with a team-high +16 plus-minus.</p><p>Mosley praised the collective effort of the supporting cast, including the defensive impact from Gary Harris and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.</p><p>“I think it showed up in more ways than scoring,” Mosley said. “You gotta give Gary Harris so much credit for the way in which he came in and changed the game, his defensive presence, his activity on the basketball. Kenny was again tremendous defensively getting after the ball, getting into the ball, fighting over screens. These guys take on that defensive challenge and that’s what we’re gonna continue to need.”</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/schedule/upcoming">Magic will aim to even the series at 2-2 when they host Game 4 on Sunday night</a> at 7:00 p.m. ET on TNT before the series shifts back to Boston for Game 5.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jamahl Mosley credits key Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner trait that led to Magic’s Game 3 win

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-gushes-over-franz-wagner-game-3-performance');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero gushes over Franz Wagner’s ‘gutsy’ Game 3 performance');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Franz-Wagner-shoots-against-Boston-Celtics-center-Kristaps-Porzingis.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero gushes over Franz Wagner’s ‘gutsy’ Game 3 performance</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-26T07:51:10-07:00">April 26th, 7:51am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-26T07:51:10-07:00">April 26th, 7:51am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-franz-wagner-heroics-orlando-takes-game-3-celtics">Orlando Magic secured a much-needed 95-93 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 3</a> of their first-round playoff series on Friday night, and it was Franz Wagner who delivered in the clutch to lift the team to victory. Wagner scored the final four points for Orlando, helping the Magic trim the Celtics’ series lead to 2-1 ahead of Game 4.</p><p>Wagner finished with 32 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and two steals while shooting 7-for-12 from the free throw line. His strong two-way performance drew high praise from co-star Paolo Banchero, who also posted another standout game with 29 points, six rebounds, two steals, and an assist on 7-for-8 shooting from the line.</p><p>“I would say really gutsy,” Banchero said postgame when <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">reflecting</a> on Wagner’s play. “He was locked in from start to finish on both sides of the ball, just being ultra aggressive on both sides of the floor.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr. praise Franz Wagner’s poise after Magic’s second-half comeback</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Franz-Wagner-defends-Boston-Celtics-forward-Jayson-Tatum-during-the-first-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Wagner’s late-game heroics capped off a hard-fought night for the Magic, who trailed 59-49 at halftime but stormed back with a dominant defensive effort in the third quarter. Wendell Carter Jr., who recorded a double-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds, an assist, and a block, also praised Wagner’s poise and intelligence.</p><p>“Franz is a special player. His IQ for the game is at such a high level, he understands situations very well,” Carter Jr. said. “So we knew, at least I did, he was gonna make the right play whether that was scoring it, drawing two and kicking it, and they allowed him to play one-on-one and we was all confident that he was gonna get a [bucket] or at least a great shot for himself. So, yeah in Franz we trust.”</p><p>Carter Jr. continued, <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">emphasizing</a> Wagner’s ability to rise to the occasion.</p><p>“Franz’s attention to detail, his work ethic, it’s good to see him go out there and show what he’s capable of doing on any given night,” he said. “I think he’s gonna be able to use this going into the next couple of games in this series.”</p><h2><b>Wagner exploits Celtics’ switches as Magic clamp down defensively in Game 3 win</b></h2><p>Wagner reflected on his closing moments, acknowledging the importance of exploiting Boston’s defensive switches.</p><p>“They switched a ton as well,” Wagner said. “I felt like that was a good matchup for us and you know, once that first one went in, the end of the games a little slower and you’re just kind of looking for any advantage. So, I thought it was good that we went right back to it.”</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-does-something-celtics-no-team-done-all-season">Magic’s third-quarter performance proved pivotal</a>. After allowing the Celtics to average 30.5 points per third quarter on 48.9% shooting through the first two games, Orlando held Boston to just 11 points on 17.6% shooting, including 12.5% from three in Game 3.</p><p>Franz Wagner credited the team’s halftime mindset adjustment.</p><p>“Obviously, backs against the wall,” Wagner said. “I wanted to make sure we come out playing harder… after that [first Celtics] three, they didn’t score for a while. I thought we were really locked in, had great energy.”</p><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-fighting-magic-nba-playoff-series">series has grown increasingly physical</a>, Wagner welcomed the rugged style of play.</p><p>“I feel like it suits our team, our playing style,” Wagner said. “Whoever is the [most] aggressive for a longer time in the game, wins the game and the series so hopefully we can come up with the same mentality on Sunday.”</p><p>The Magic will aim to even the series at 2-2 when they host Game 4 on Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. ET on TNT before heading back to Boston for Game 5.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Paolo Banchero gushes over Franz Wagner’s ‘gutsy’ Game 3 performance

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-jamahl-mosley-send-message-to-refs-after-game-2-loss');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero, Jamahl Mosley send message to refs after hard-fought Game 2 loss');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-shoots-over-Boston-Celtics-guard-Jrue-Holiday-4.jpg"><figcaption>© Winslow Townson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero, Jamahl Mosley send message to refs after hard-fought Game 2 loss</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-24T11:40:09-07:00">April 24th, 11:40am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-24T11:40:09-07:00">April 24th, 11:40am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-franz-wagner-at-loss-for-words-on-3-point-shooting-as-fans-question-hitch">Orlando Magic find themselves trailing 0-2 in their first-round series against the Boston Celtics</a> after a 109-100 loss in Game 2 on Wednesday night. While the team remains focused on regrouping for Game 3 at home, frustration surrounding the officiating was evident in postgame comments from both Paolo Banchero and head coach Jamahl Mosley.</p><p>Banchero, who once again led the Magic with 32 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks, <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">addressed the officiating</a> during his media availability.</p><p>“I mean you can’t expect the refs to be perfect every game,” Banchero said. “A couple of calls that, you know, I didn’t agree with — we as a team didn’t agree with — but like I said, it’s gonna be like that some games. Gotta play through it.”</p><h2><b>Jamahl Mosley addresses early foul trouble, free throw disparity in Game 2 loss to Celtics</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caleb-Houstan-2-reacts-to-a-fouls-called-on-his-team-during-the-second-quarter-of-game-two.jpg"><figcaption>© Winslow Townson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Magic faced a significant free throw disparity in the first half. Boston ended the first quarter with 12 free throw attempts compared to Orlando’s two. By halftime, the Celtics had 23 attempts to the Magic’s 10, while Orlando had been called for 14 fouls — resulting in at least two fouls on nearly every starter. Boston, by contrast, had only eight team fouls at the break.</p><p>The second half saw a more balanced whistle, but the overall totals still leaned in Boston’s favor. The Celtics finished with 33 free throw attempts to the Magic’s 24, while team fouls ended at 23 for Orlando and 19 for Boston.</p><p>Mosley offered a composed yet <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">telling response</a> when asked about the officiating postgame.</p><p>“I’m not the one to answer that question. I promise you, I can’t answer that one right now,” Mosley said. “I think there is some things that you’d like to look at and say differently — I’m not one to complain about any of it, but there’s a reality that all of our starters had two fouls at one point quickly, and there was a time that it was 16-2 in the free throw count.”</p><p>He acknowledged that the team must find ways to overcome adversity.</p><p>“That’s part of how the game goes, and that’s what we gotta learn to push through and fight through,” Mosley continued. “And that’s what these guys did. Now when we get to the free throw line we gotta knock them down too. Can’t miss nine in a nine-point game.”</p><h2><b>Mosley praises Paolo Banchero’s playoff rise as Magic eye Game 3 response in Orlando</b></h2><p>Mosley then pivoted to praise Banchero, who has once again <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-paolo-banchero-franz-wagner-are-undervalued-among-nba-peers">elevated his performance in the postseason</a>. Through two games, Banchero is averaging 34 points, 10 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 50% from the field and 46.2% from three-point range.</p><p>“It’s who he is. He’s a winner. He’s trying to find ways to do whatever he can,” Mosley said. “Not coming out of the game in that fourth quarter just because of how bad he wants to go take this game… this young man is doing whatever he can for this team in order to put us in the position to be successful and to win games.”</p><p>With the series shifting to Orlando, both Paolo Banchero and Jamahl Mosley expressed excitement about returning to their home court. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.</p><p>“Yeah, really excited to get back home and defend home court,” Banchero said. “But if we wanna win the series we gotta get a win on the road… still looking for that.”</p><p>Mosley echoed the importance of playing in front of their home crowd at the KIA Center.</p><p>“I think for this group absolutely,” Mosley said. “I think our crowd is one of the best in the league and they’re gonna be behind us, supporting us… that energy at the KIA Center is gonna be something that we’re gonna need as we move back home to be able to take care of home.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
22.9	7.1	4.9	0.8	0.6

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
22.9	7.1	4.9	0.8	0.6

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