<!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', '/magic-news-how-franz-wagner-leadership-evolved-amid-paolo-banchero-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Franz Wagner’s leadership has evolved amid Paolo Banchero’s injury');   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/2024/12/How-Franz-Wagners-leadership-has-evolved-amid-Paolo-Bancheros-injury.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>How Franz Wagner’s leadership has evolved amid Paolo Banchero’s injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-05T10:44:46-08:00">December 5th, 10:44am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-05T10:45:25-08:00">December 5th, 10:45am</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>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-vs-magic-franz-wagner-outduels-tyrese-maxey-in-orlando-victory">Orlando Magic regained momentum Wednesday night</a> with a hard-fought 106-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The win marked a bounce back for the Magic, who improved to 16-8 on the season following a disappointing 121-106 <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-franz-wagner-gets-honest-advancing-in-nba-cup-despite-loss-knicks">loss to the New York Knicks in their final NBA Cup match</a>.</p><p>Franz Wagner played a pivotal role in the victory, leading the Magic with 35 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one block while converting all 10 of his free throw attempts. The performance marked Wagner’s seventh 30-point game this season, equaling his total from last year.</p><p>After the game, Wagner reflected on his consistency and growth, especially with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/how-magic-home-dominance-has-calmed-paolo-bancheros-injury-absence">Paolo Banchero sidelined due to injury</a>.</p><p>“I try to be consistent with anything I do, just try to focus on my habits before the game and little rituals I got,” Wagner said. “Just try to always be in that same mindset kind of going into the game. Obviously, with P out I got a lot more opportunity to be on the ball – a lot more of those situations where I can make the decision and it’s a challenge too. I’m still learning a lot, honestly feel like there’s a bunch of stuff I can still improve on. So I hope I can do that.”</p><h2><b>Franz Wagner’s stellar stretch sparks All-Star talk amid increased leadership</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Franz-Wagner-22-dunks-the-ball-in-front-of-Philadelphia-76ers-guard-Kelly-Oubre-Jr.-9.jpg"><figcaption>© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In his last 10 games, Wagner has averaged 26.9 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 46.5% from the field. His performances have drawn attention, fueling conversations about potential All-Star and All-NBA honors.</p><p>“It’s great but I’m one of those guys before the game I try to focus on the stuff that really matters and gets me to have a good game,” Wagner <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I don’t focus on those things too much. Obviously, it’s really cool to be playing well and have a good season but I think everybody kind of has their own motivation. I think that’s just kind of an add-on for me.”</p><p>With Banchero unavailable, Wagner has embraced a more prominent leadership role with the Magic, both on and off the court.</p><p>“With P out, it’s more leadership on the court in terms of what we’re running and if we need a good shot, or be poised and kind of get everybody together,” Wagner explained. “In general I think I’m someone who tries to lead by example and on an individual basis, kind of find the moments with guys.”</p><p>Despite his increased responsibilities, Wagner acknowledged that Banchero’s support remains valuable even from the sidelines.</p><p>“I mean we haven’t really done that during the game because obviously we’re focused on the game,” Wagner said. “But I think it’s good that his engagement level throughout the game, helping me. Obviously, he’s in those situations so he’s more used to it. And so I look for him to help us out too and just get his viewpoint when he sees something.”</p><h2><b>Jonathan Isaac highlights Wagner’s impact in Magic’s win over 76ers</b></h2><p>Jonathan Isaac, who contributed 14 points, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, praised Wagner’s emergence as a leader during Banchero’s absence.</p><p>“Yeah, I mean amazed of course but I’m not surprised,” Isaac said. “He’s put the work in and he’s had a unique opportunity with Paolo being out and he’s taking advantage of it. I’m proud of him and he’s been extremely consistent but if you know him, you know that was gonna be a part of his DNA from the very beginning.”</p><p>Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley also <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">highlighted</a> the team’s resilience in responding to Tuesday’s loss, emphasizing the collective effort that defines the Magic’s identity.</p><p>“It’s not surprising because that’s the identity of the Orlando Magic. That’s who we are,” Mosley said. “We’re gonna fight, we’re gonna grind it out, whatever it looks like we’re gonna stick to our defense and how we want to guard night in and night out. Whether we’re making shots or not, this is a gritty group that’s gonna find a way no matter what.”</p><p>The Magic will close out their Atlantic road trip with a rematch against the struggling 76ers (5-15) as they look to continue their strong start to the 2024-25 season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Franz Wagner’s leadership has evolved amid Paolo Banchero’s injury

<!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', '/how-magic-home-dominance-has-calmed-paolo-bancheros-injury-absence');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Magic’s home dominance has calmed Paolo Banchero’s injury absence');   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/2024/11/How-Magics-home-dominance-has-calmed-Paolo-Bancheros-injury-absence.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>How Magic’s home dominance has calmed Paolo Banchero’s injury absence</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-22T14:13:15-08:00">November 22nd, 2:13pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-22T14:13:15-08:00">November 22nd, 2:13pm</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>The Orlando Magic’s strong performance at home has provided much-needed stability as the team navigates the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-biggest-christmas-wish-amid-injury-concerns">absence of star forward Paolo Banchero</a>. The Magic, currently sitting at 10-7 and fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, have been nearly flawless on their home court, maintaining an undefeated record at the KIA Center this season. Their dominance at home has helped offset road struggles and mitigate the impact of Banchero’s indefinite absence due to a torn right oblique.</p><p>The Magic’s home court success extends beyond this season. Dating back to April 1, 2024, the Magic have not lost a single game at home, a remarkable feat that includes the conclusion of last season, their playoff run, and the current campaign. During that stretch, the team has won three home games to end the 2023-24 regular season, three postseason home games, and all seven home contests in the 2024-25 season. Even in the preseason, the Magic secured a home win in their lone game at the KIA Center after their second home matchup was canceled due to Hurricane Milton.</p><h2><b>Magic’s home dominance contrasts with road struggles</b></h2><p>The Magic’s streak is unmatched in its breadth. <a href="https://x.com/hardrockbet/status/1858980193211478059?s=46&amp;t=zbZh6HTk7I35gAbTbGAAaA" rel="noopener">According to Hard Rock</a>, the Magic are the only professional team across major American sports leagues — including the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL — to remain undefeated at home since April 1, whether in preseason, regular season, or postseason play. This consistency underscores the Magic’s ability to elevate their game when playing in front of their home crowd.</p><p>Statistically, the Magic have been dominant at home. This season, they are averaging 111 points per game at the KIA Center while shooting 46.6% from the field and an impressive 38.6% from three-point range. Their defense has been equally formidable, boasting a league-best home defensive rating of 99.</p><p>However, the story has been different on the road. The Magic are just 3-7 in away games, where their performance has dipped significantly. On the road, the team averages 103.8 points per game, shooting just 43.2% from the field and 29.2% from beyond the arc. Their defensive rating also drops to 109.9, <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/magic-defensive-rating-last-10-away-games" rel="noopener">highlighting the disparity</a> between their home and road form.</p><h2><b>Franz Wagner’s brilliance anchors Magic amid Paolo Banchero’s absence</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Goga-Bitadze-35-is-congratulated-by-forward-Franz-Wagner-22-and-teammates.jpg"><figcaption>© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Thursday night’s road win against the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-franz-wagner-special-game-vs-lakers-leads-to-historic-lebron-james-company%5D">Los Angeles Lakers, capped by Franz Wagner’s game-winning three-pointer</a>, offered a glimpse of the team’s potential to overcome their road struggles. Wagner has been instrumental in stepping up during Banchero’s absence, playing at an All-Star, and even All-NBA, level. His performances, including a 37-point, 11-assist outing against the Lakers, have been crucial in keeping the Magic competitive.</p><p>The Magic’s ability to dominate at home has provided a critical cushion as they work to improve their road play and cope with Banchero’s absence. Last season, the Magic boasted one of the league’s best home records at 29-12, a key factor in their 47-win campaign and postseason berth. Their continued success at home this season has kept them competitive and firmly positioned near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.</p><p>As Paolo Banchero remains sidelined, the Magic’s home court advantage has become a reliable anchor. With Franz Wagner leading the way and the team’s defense locking down opponents at the KIA Center, the Magic have maintained their standing as one of the Eastern Conference’s most promising teams. While road consistency remains a challenge, their dominance at home ensures they remain a formidable force.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Magic’s home dominance has calmed Paolo Banchero’s injury absence

<!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', '/magic-news-paolo-banchero-biggest-christmas-wish-amid-injury-concerns');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero’s biggest Christmas wish amid injury concerns');   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/2024/11/Magic-news-Paolo-Bancheros-biggest-Christmas-wish-amid-injury-concerns.jpg"></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero’s biggest Christmas wish amid injury concerns</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-18T13:37:17-08:00">November 18th, 1:37pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-18T13:37:17-08:00">November 18th, 1:37pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-out-several-weeks-after-brutal-injury-diagnosis">Magic are still playing without Paolo Banchero</a>, and they’ll probably be doing so for the next month. Banchero is <a href="https://x.com/ESPNNBA/status/1858612884089020693" rel="noopener">hoping that he can return sooner</a>, and he has a specific time period that he’s aiming for.</p><p>“The way I feel and I’ve been feeling, I think I can get back before Christmas,” Banchero said in an interview with ESPN. “If it’s around that time, and they say ‘No way, you can’t go,’ then I’ll listen. But if he gives me the green light, then ima do it.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"The way I feel and I've been feeling, I think I can get back before Christmas."<a href="https://twitter.com/Pp_doesit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pp_doesit</a> on when he hopes to be back 👀 <a href="https://t.co/DsRpTwgY5L">pic.twitter.com/DsRpTwgY5L</a></p><p>— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1858612884089020693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Banchero suffered a torn right oblique at the end of October and was ruled out indefinitely. At that time, the Magic announced that Banchero would be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, so the time should be coming up soon when an update comes on his injury.</p><p>The Magic are still staying afloat in the Eastern Conference, and if they can keep doing that, they’ll be in good shape whenever Banchero returns.</p><h2>Magic trying to adjust without Paolo Banchero</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paolo-Banchero.jpg"><figcaption>Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Other players have had to step up with Paolo Banchero injured, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-franz-wagner-gets-brutally-honest-on-shift-without-paolo-banchero">Franz Wagner is expected to carry the load</a> while he’s sidelined. Wagner spoke about how it’s been an adjustment having to take on more responsibility with the ball in his hands.</p><p>“I think I had a little adjustment period, and I talked about it – I think it’s a little of a mentality shift for me as well,” Wagner said. “The way I grew up playing was a lot off the ball and just taking really good shots all the time. Sometimes, it’s okay to take a mid-range shot and stuff like that. So, that’s something that’s not ingrained necessarily or wasn’t taught to me from a young age. It’s a good challenge for me, and it’s super cool to get those opportunities, and I just want to make the most of them.”</p><p>The Magic have the right pieces to stay afloat, and it’ll be their defense that leads them. They were one of the best defensive teams in the league last season, and adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency is going to make it better.</p><p>Banchero started this season off strong for the Magic, averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. He’s one of the players who was expected to make a big jump this season, and though the injury may have set him back for the moment, he should come back and finish off where he started.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero’s biggest Christmas wish amid injury concerns

<!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', '/magic-news-franz-wagner-leadership-in-paolo-banchero-absence-draws-take-moe-wagner');   ga('set', 'title', 'Franz Wagner’s leadership in Paolo Banchero’s absence draws strong take from Moe Wagner');   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/2024/11/Magic-news-Franz-Wagners-leadership-in-Paolo-Bancheros-absence-draws-strong-take-from-Moe-Wagner.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Franz Wagner’s leadership in Paolo Banchero’s absence draws strong take from Moe Wagner</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-16T10:48:13-08:00">November 16th, 10:48am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-16T10:48:13-08:00">November 16th, 10:48am</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>The Orlando Magic extended their winning streak to five games on Friday night, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 98-86 in their second NBA Cup matchup. The victory capped off a perfect homestand and improved the Magic’s record to 8-6 on the season. With the win, the Magic are now 2-0 in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-jalen-suggs-drops-truth-running-up-score-vs-hornets-in-nba-cup">East Group A after defeating the Charlotte Hornets</a> earlier in the week.</p><p>Franz Wagner led the charge once again, continuing to excel as the team’s primary scoring option in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-franz-wagner-gets-brutally-honest-on-shift-without-paolo-banchero">absence of Paolo Banchero</a>, who remains sidelined with a torn right oblique. Wagner’s standout performance included 31 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and two steals, with a +18 plus/minus. Over the course of the homestand, Wagner averaged 28.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 46.4% from the field and 34.2% from beyond the arc.</p><p>Speaking after the game, Franz Wagner reflected on his <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">ability to adapt</a> to his expanded role in Paolo Banchero’s absence.</p><p>“Seeing a lot of these coverages over and over again, going over to my head knowing what the counters are to them. I think also even if I made a couple of shots in a row, not looking to score, just continue to be aggressive and just being in that mindset where you can improvise out there and not predetermine stuff – I think that’s when as a player that’s when when get into a rhythm,” Wagner said. “Some of the stuff that you can predetermine or can plan for just kind of happens in the flow of the game and that’s also when it’s the most fun.”</p><h2><b>Moritz Wagner reflects on Franz’s recent leadership in Magic’s NBA Cup win over 76ers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Franz-Wagner-22-is-guarded-by-Philadelphia-76ers-guard-Kyle-Lowry-7.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Moritz Wagner, who contributed 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal in the win, shared his thoughts on Franz’s performances during the Magic’s recent stretch of success. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-franz-moritz-wagner-achieve-rare-nba-brothers-feat">two brothers recently achieved a rare NBA feat</a> by leading the team in scoring in consecutive games, underscoring their significant impact during the homestand.</p><p>“I’m not even surprised anymore. Like that’s the even more impressive part that I kind of assume that he’s gonna do that and I really don’t care how many 30 balls he drops because it’s just so normal now – that’s the even more incredible thing,” Moritz Wagner said.</p><p>“Obviously, he has a different demeanor about himself – kind of stepped up here in the last 10 games with Paolo out and you can see it in his day-to-day life. He’s super locked in. I don’t even talk to him about it because whatever he’s doing is going great and I’m very excited to be a part of his team.”</p><p>The Orlando Magic will now embark on a three-game road trip, beginning with a matchup against the 9-4 Phoenix Suns on Monday night. As they carry their winning streak on the road, Franz Wagner’s leadership and consistent performances will be pivotal in continuing their momentum.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Franz Wagner’s leadership in Paolo Banchero’s absence draws strong take from Moe Wagner

<!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', '/magic-news-franz-wagner-gets-brutally-honest-on-shift-without-paolo-banchero');   ga('set', 'title', 'Franz Wagner gets brutally honest on ‘shift’ without 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/2024/11/Franz-Wagner-gets-brutally-honest-on-shift-without-Paolo-Banchero.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Franz Wagner gets brutally honest on ‘shift’ without Paolo Banchero</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-13T09:05:41-08:00">November 13th, 9:05am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-13T09:05:41-08:00">November 13th, 9:05am</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">Charlotte Hornets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Franz Wagner continues to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-franz-wagner-paces-magic-in-win-against-pelicans">step up for the Orlando Magic in Paolo Banchero’s absence</a>, embracing a heavier offensive load as his team aims to build on a string of victories. The Magic cruised to a decisive 114-89 win over the Charlotte Hornets in their first NBA Cup matchup on Tuesday night, marking their third straight victory and improving their record to an even 6-6. This recent success follows a difficult five-game road stretch in which Orlando went winless, but they have rebounded to start their NBA Cup campaign strong.</p><p>Wagner has been a standout force for the Magic, scoring 32 points while adding eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals against the Hornets. His performance underscores his adaptability and leadership on the court, especially with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-jamahl-mosley-makes-promise-after-3-point-shooting-game">Banchero sidelined for several weeks due to a torn right oblique</a>. Since recovering from an illness earlier in the season, Wagner has averaged 26.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals over the past five games, shooting an impressive 48.5% from the field.</p><p>Addressing the media after Tuesday’s game, Wagner <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">expressed cautious optimism</a> about the team’s recent form, noting the importance of staying grounded despite the winning streak.</p><p>“Yeah, we’re confident, but we also know we’re six and six, and it’s early in the season,” Wagner said. “The way it works is the moment you look too far ahead or look back or any of that stuff – that’s when you don’t focus on the next game and on what’s right in front of you. That’s what’s most important.”</p><h2><b>Franz Wagner embraces expanded role, adjusting mentality to lead Magic in Paolo Banchero’s absence</b></h2><p>Wagner discussed how he adjusted his offensive approach following Banchero’s injury, shifting his mentality to embrace more responsibility with the ball in his hands.</p><p>“I think I had a little adjustment period, and I talked about it – I think it’s a little of a mentality shift for me as well,” Wagner shared. “The way I grew up playing was a lot off the ball and just taking really good shots all the time. Sometimes, it’s okay to take a mid-range shot and stuff like that. So, that’s something that’s not ingrained necessarily or wasn’t taught to me from a young age. It’s a good challenge for me, and it’s super cool to get those opportunities, and I just want to make the most of them.”</p><p>Jalen Suggs, who scored 17 points in the first half against Charlotte, praised Wagner’s recent performances. Drafted together in 2021, they’ve built a strong bond on and off the court.</p><p>“It’s hard because every day I feel like he one-ups it,” Suggs said. “He’s hooping; I told him keep carving it up because when he’s in that mode – aggressive but also really dissecting the game – I love how intellectual he is… every possession he has the ball, something good can happen. He’s playing amazing right now, and I’m really proud of him. It’s my brother for real. Like I said, we started this journey together, growing up together for the past four years.”</p><h2><b>Jamahl Mosley praises Wagner after NBA Cup win vs. Hornets as Magic prepare for Pacers challenge</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Franz-Wagner-22-shoots-as-Charlotte-Hornets-forward-Cody-Martin-11-defends.jpg"><figcaption>© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley also lauded Wagner’s competitive drive, <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">commending his willingness</a> to take on added responsibilities.</p><p>“It’s who he is,” Mosley stated. “I think he does such a phenomenal job of just taking on the moment, stepping into there as a competitor. He’s super competitive, and he’s going to do whatever is necessary to help this team to win. He’s embracing all of the challenges that are there and not shying away from it, and the guys are supporting him the same way.”</p><p>Looking ahead, Wagner acknowledged the upcoming challenge of playing the Indiana Pacers in a back-to-back matchup. The Magic have already faced the Pacers twice this season, splitting the encounters, with Banchero posting a career-high 50 points in the first meeting.</p><p>“They’re a really challenging team,” Wagner said of the Pacers. “They play extremely fast. Obviously, they have a great offense where they move a lot. It’s two-three actions on every possession and puts you in a lot of difficult situations. So, obviously not an easy game for a back-to-back, but I think it’s a great challenge for our defense, and if we do our job, I think we’ll be in good shape.”</p><p>The Magic aim to continue their momentum as they adjust to life without Paolo Banchero, with Franz Wagner’s leadership and scoring ability proving crucial in their push for a successful NBA Cup run.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Franz Wagner gets brutally honest on ‘shift’ without 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', '/magic-news-franz-wagner-paces-magic-in-win-against-pelicans');   ga('set', 'title', 'Franz Wagner’s aggressive play paces Magic in win against Pelicans amid Paolo Banchero’s absence');   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/2024/11/Franz-Wagners-aggressive-play-paces-Magic-in-win-against-Pelicans-amid-Paolo-Bancheros-absence.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Franz Wagner’s aggressive play paces Magic in win against Pelicans amid Paolo Banchero’s absence</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-09T10:49:32-08:00">November 9th, 10:49am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-09T10:51:46-08:00">November 9th, 10:51am</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">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-how-paolo-banchero-is-still-helping-orlando-despite-injury-absence">Orlando Magic snapped a five-game losing streak</a> with a resounding 115-88 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, led by a standout performance from Franz Wagner. Returning home after a winless road trip, the Magic sought new ways to fill the production gap left by Paolo Banchero’s absence, and Wagner stepped up, helping the team improve to 4-6 on the season.</p><p>Wagner took control early, scoring 17 points in the first quarter alone, hitting seven of his first 10 shots. His early offense fueled the Magic’s 14-point lead at the end of the opening period, and his assertive play continued to set the tone for the rest of the game. Wagner finished with an impressive 27 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals while shooting nine for 18 from the field and a near-perfect seven for eight from the free-throw line.</p><p>Reflecting on his role in the win, Wagner <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">spoke about his mindset</a> going into the game.</p><p>“I think I had a good mentality coming into both games whether it be me scoring or impacting the game in other ways,” Wagner said. “I think that’s my mentality coming into the game, set the tone, and whether it ends up in me scoring points or just us as a group coming up with the right mindset – I think that’s my goal.”</p><h2><b>Franz Wagner adapts to heightened defensive pressure amid Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr absences </b></h2><p>With Banchero and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-jalen-suggs-gives-emotional-take-on-viral-wendell-carter-jr-moment">Wendell Carter Jr. both out</a>, Wagner noted that he’s been mindful of stepping up his game as opposing defenses increase their focus on him.</p><p>“It’s definitely a little mindset shift,” Wagner explained. “I think everybody has to have that a little bit with P and Wendell out – knowing that there’s more opportunity for guys and it’s no different for me. Just try to play my game, be really aggressive, keep my composure as well. I think it’s really important… understanding my role on the team and just try to be aggressive and make plays – also, be ok sometimes making mistakes and understanding that defense is really locked in on me.”</p><p>Franz’s brother, Moritz Wagner, delivered a strong performance off the bench, adding 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists on an efficient eight-for-11 shooting. After the game, Moritz expressed pride in his brother’s efforts and noted how his success impacts the team.</p><p>“Obviously, he’s one of our best players… I think a lot of attention for the opposing teams goes towards him,” Moritz Wagner said. “He’s a very important player for us and I’m happy when he smiles – he gets a little grumpy sometimes.”</p><p>Moritz also discussed the psychological impact of Paolo Banchero’s absence, emphasizing the human side of the game.</p><p>“It’s always a matter of perspective to be honest with you when that stuff happens. First of all, I’m sad for the player. That’s the biggest point for me – there’s a human side to this,” he said. “I feel for him… I feel for the player and then that’s part of the NBA. Honestly, I’d be happy it happens at the beginning of the season. This would be awful during the playoffs.”</p><h2><b>Anthony Black and Jamahl Mosley emphasize Wagner’s leadership as Magic secure win over Pelicans</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Franz-Wagner-22-drives-the-ball-past-New-Orleans-Pelicans-guard-Jose-Alvarado-15.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Anthony Black contributed 11 points, four assists, and three rebounds off the bench and highlighted the importance of Wagner’s early offense in setting the pace for the team.</p><p>“Super important. It’s no secret, that’s our guy right now… so just getting him going is important for us not just for tonight but going forward,” Black said. “We’re telling him to keep being aggressive, keep shooting the ball, keep taking it to the rim and just be you out there and let us play off of you.”</p><p>Head coach Jamahl Mosley praised Wagner’s competitive spirit, crediting his commitment to both scoring and playmaking as a key factor in the team’s success amid adversity.</p><p>“He’s just such a competitor,” Mosley stated. “He’s gonna do whatever it takes, whatever is necessary to try to put this team on his back and figure out a way to get a win and he continues to play the right way – I think that’s so important. We ask him to be aggressive, ask him to make the right plays and he’s trying to do that… that’s what we have to continue to ask from him on every night.”</p><p>With Banchero’s return timeline still uncertain, the Magic will continue to rely on Wagner’s leadership as they face the Washington Wizards on Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. ET, hoping to build momentum at home and solidify their footing early in the season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Franz Wagner’s aggressive play paces Magic in win against Pelicans amid Paolo Banchero’s absence

<!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', '/magic-news-what-orlando-needs-from-former-no-6-pick-with-paolo-banchero-out');   ga('set', 'title', 'What Magic need from former No. 6 pick with Paolo Banchero out');   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/2024/11/What-Orlando-needs-from-former-No.-6-pick-with-Paolo-Banchero-out.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>What Magic need from former No. 6 pick with Paolo Banchero out</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-07T10:06:16-08:00">November 7th, 10:06am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-07T10:06:16-08:00">November 7th, 10:06am</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/magic-news-jamahl-mosley-makes-promise-after-3-point-shooting-game">Orlando Magic’s recent struggles</a> have underscored the impact of Paolo Banchero’s absence, with the team dropping four consecutive games without the forward on the court. Banchero, who has been sidelined for the last four contests due to an injury, is expected to miss several more weeks, leaving a significant gap in the Magic’s lineup. In his absence, the Magic are turning to second-year guard Anthony Black, the former No. 6 overall pick, to shoulder a larger role and provide a stabilizing presence.</p><p>Following Wednesday night’s <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-how-paolo-banchero-is-still-helping-orlando-despite-injury-absence">118-111 road loss to the Indiana Pacers</a>, which capped off a challenging five-game trip, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley spoke about Black’s expanded role. Mosley highlighted Black’s aggression and ability to drive into the paint, areas in which the guard has excelled despite the team’s overall struggles.</p><p>“Yes, absolutely – how aggressive he was getting downhill, attacking the basket, finding the open man and then defending the right way,” Mosley noted. “That’s what we’re asking for Anthony Black to play.”</p><h2><b>Anthony Black shines in loss to Pacers as he steps up in Paolo Banchero’s absence</b></h2><p>Against the Pacers, Black delivered a well-rounded performance off the bench, scoring 12 points while adding six rebounds and two steals. His presence on the court gave the Magic much-needed energy, especially in the second half. Black, recognizing his evolving role, emphasized his goal to facilitate his teammates and generate scoring opportunities through his playmaking abilities.</p><p>“I think I make my team better whenever I get into the paint just because I’m willing to spray the ball out for a three or get to the line,” Black commented postgame. “I definitely appreciate coach putting the ball in my hands into the third, early fourth or whenever it was.”</p><p>Anthony Black’s confidence in his ability to initiate offense is essential as the Magic look for answers without Paolo Banchero’s scoring and playmaking. However, Black <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">pointed out the need for stronger starts</a> on the defensive end, noting that early deficits have put the Magic in difficult positions to recover.</p><p>“I think just focusing on coming out just locked in on defense,” Black said. “We’ve done a good job responding to our first quarters that we’ve been giving up. I think a couple of these games if we have a better first quarter defensively, we’re in the game – we put ourselves in a better position to win down the stretch so definitely starting the first quarter quicker.”</p><p>The Magic allowed the Pacers to score 38 points in the first quarter on 66.7% shooting, at one point trailing by as many as 18 points. Early defensive lapses have been a recurring issue in Orlando’s recent games, putting added pressure on players like Black to jumpstart the offense while attempting to claw back from significant deficits.</p><h2><b>Jamahl Mosley calls for deliberate crashing and shot selection to Magic’s slow starts</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Anthony-Black-0-the-ball-while-Indiana-Pacers-guard-T.J.-McConnell-9-defends.jpg"><figcaption>© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Jamahl Mosley <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">echoed</a> Anthony Black’s concerns about the team’s slow starts, noting that Orlando’s offensive miscues often fuel their opponents’ transition opportunities. Addressing this, Mosley underscored the need for improved spacing and a more deliberate approach to shot selection.</p><p>“Going back and looking at the film, if you go back to the Cleveland game when they got out to the hot start – obviously guys made tough shots, that’s one piece,” Mosley said. “Then you look at the other side of it is when we’re missing shots whether that be at the rim or long threes it’s allowing these teams to get out running and get easy baskets. If you look at a lot of those, that’s what they are. We’ve got to be more deliberate in our crashing, we’ve got to be better with our spacing and then knowing we got to be able to step in and knock shots down – so now we’re playing against a team that’s taking the ball out of bounds versus getting out in transition.”</p><p>As the Magic, now 3-6, prepare to return to Orlando for a five-game homestand, Black’s role as a primary facilitator and defender becomes even more critical. Their upcoming matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night presents an opportunity to get back on track. The Pelicans, also grappling with injuries, come into the game with a similar 3-6 record and a three-game losing streak.</p><p>The Magic are banking on Black’s continued development to provide stability and energy. With Banchero’s absence extending into a crucial stretch of the season, Black’s contributions on both ends of the floor will be essential as the Magic look to gain traction and overcome their early season challenges.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

What Magic need from former No. 6 pick with Paolo Banchero out

<!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', '/magic-news-how-paolo-banchero-is-still-helping-orlando-despite-injury-absence');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Paolo Banchero is still helping Magic despite lengthy injury absence');   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/2024/11/Magic-news-How-Paolo-Banchero-is-still-helping-Orlando-despite-lengthy-injury-absence.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>How Paolo Banchero is still helping Magic despite lengthy injury absence</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-07T08:41:03-08:00">November 7th, 8:41am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-07T08:42:07-08:00">November 7th, 8:42am</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/magic-news-jamahl-mosley-makes-promise-after-3-point-shooting-game">Orlando Magic have felt the void left by Paolo Banchero’s absence</a>, with the forward sidelined for an extended period due to injury. Banchero has missed the last four games, during which the Magic have suffered four consecutive losses, including a 118-111 defeat to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday that capped a challenging five-game road trip.</p><p>Despite being out of the lineup, Banchero has remained engaged with the team, providing guidance from the sidelines. Head coach Jamahl Mosley <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">highlighted</a> Banchero’s contributions beyond the court, noting that the third-year forward has been proactive in offering insights and support to his teammates.</p><p>“Prime example tonight… he comes up, he’s recognizing what set we’re running and who’s guarding who and he understands exactly – hey, put this guy in the action, he’s talking to the coaches, he’s coming up talking to me,” Mosley said. “I think it’s great that he’s helping these guys in the huddles as well – telling them the things that he sees, he’s also highly aware of exactly how teams are playing and what we can do to execute. He’s done a fantastic job of that… of being engaged, of helping these guys understand how good we can be when he’s not even on the floor. That’s part of him growing his leadership which we love for him to continue to do.”</p><h2><b>Magic embrace ‘next man up’ mentality as Jalen Suggs &amp; Franz Wagner step up in Paolo Banchero’s absence </b></h2><p>Mosley also addressed the team’s challenges without their star forward, acknowledging the narrow margin of error in his absence. The Magic, currently 3-6 on the season, have struggled to maintain consistency, especially on the road. With Banchero out, Mosley has leaned on other players to step up, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-jamahl-mosley-calls-jalen-suggs-franz-wagner-to-step-up-amid-paolo-banchero-absence">notably Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner</a>, who have each delivered standout performances despite the team’s recent struggles.</p><p>“Yes. Again, we always talk about the next man up mentality and we had a lot of guys step in and played hard – they played the right way,” Mosley said. “I mean, 26 assists, I think that’s something we’re trying to share the basketball. We’ll go with the margins, which you can’t start the game off 38 to 26 in that first quarter. That’s very important that you start off the right way, especially on the road – then the second piece is you got to knock your free throws down in these situations.”</p><p>Suggs, in particular, has shown promise during this stretch. He posted a near <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-jalen-suggs-sets-career-high-vows-to-bounce-back-after-loss-to-cavs">triple-double against the Cleveland Cavaliers</a>, notching 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in one of his career-high performances. Wagner, who has been dealing with an illness, also showcased his talent, leading the team with 28 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in the recent loss to the Pacers.</p><h2><b>Jamahl Mosley carefully balances Suggs and Wagner’s increased workload going forward</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Franz-Wagner-22-dribbles-the-ball-while-Indiana-Pacers-forward-Obi-Toppin-1-defends.jpg"><figcaption>© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Balancing the responsibilities between Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner without Paolo Banchero has been a task in itself, as Jamahl Mosley acknowledged the need to manage their minutes carefully.</p><p>“That’s the tricky part about trying to figure out how much we do with them,” Mosley said. “Trying to bump them in, bump them back out and just making sure that they’re running different types of stints – just keeping their bodies as fresh as possible. Our medical staff does a great job of making sure we’re aware of what they’re doing. I think they’ve stepped in both at different moments to be able to handle the load of Paolo not being in the lineup.”</p><p>Wagner, speaking after the game, <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">expressed his approach</a> to shouldering a heavier offensive load, emphasizing his focus on staying aggressive while letting his game flow naturally.</p><p>“I try my best obviously… try not to think too much about it and just play my game, be really aggressive and see what’s out there,” Wagner said.</p><h2><b>Magic begin five-game homestand with Pelicans matchup</b></h2><p>Reflecting on the tough road trip, Wagner noted that the team showed resilience despite their setbacks.</p><p>“I think we did learn something on this road trip and we continue to get better – those stretches where we struggle get shorter and shorter,” he said. “It’s only game nine so we’ve got a lot more games to improve and figure stuff out. I think for the most part the mentality was good even after that bad first quarter – we never gave up and showed a lot of character I thought in that second quarter.”</p><p>The Magic’s struggles have extended beyond individual performances, with the team’s shooting, particularly from beyond the arc, being an area of concern. In their recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team shot just 14.7% from three-point range, though they improved to 28% against Indiana. Still, their shooting remains well below the league average.</p><p>Now back in Orlando, the Magic are set for a five-game homestand, starting with a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. Both teams, with identical 3-6 records, are dealing with early-season injury challenges and will be looking to turn their seasons around.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Paolo Banchero is still helping Magic despite lengthy injury absence

<!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', '/magic-news-orlando-get-key-addition-amid-paolo-banchero-wendell-carter-jr-injury-concerns');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic get key frontcourt addition amid Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr. injury concerns');   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/2024/11/Magic-news-Orlando-gets-key-frontcourt-addition-amid-Paolo-Banchero-Wendell-Carter-Jr.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic get key frontcourt addition amid Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr. injury concerns</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-04T13:33:39-08:00">November 4th, 1:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-04T13:33:39-08:00">November 4th, 1:33pm</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>The Orlando Magic have <a href="https://x.com/therealbeede/status/1853512782051766556" rel="noopener">received a much-needed boost</a> to their frontcourt as they prepare to face the undefeated Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. According to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel, the Magic have listed starting center Wendell Carter Jr. as out for the game due to a left foot plantar fascia strain. In a positive turn, backup center Goga Bitadze is set to return to the lineup after missing four consecutive games with a left foot tendon strain.</p><p>Bitadze’s availability comes at a critical time for the Magic, who are grappling with the absence of key players. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-franz-wagner-sends-risk-warning-to-wendell-carter-jr-after-injury">Wendell Carter Jr. sustained his injury</a> during the second quarter of Saturday’s 108-85 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. His absence leaves a significant gap in the frontcourt, especially with forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-how-franz-wagner-must-improve-his-game-without-paolo-banchero">Paolo Banchero already sidelined for several weeks</a> due to a torn right oblique reported last Friday.</p><p>Bitadze’s return is expected to provide stability and depth to the Magic’s rotation. Although his minutes have been limited this season — averaging just 5.7 minutes per game compared to 15.4 minutes across 62 games last year — Bitadze has proven his value in the past. Last season, he was instrumental as the starting center during a pivotal stretch when the Magic tied a franchise record winning nine consecutive games. During that period, Paolo Banchero was active, but with his current absence, the team will rely more heavily on players like Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs to shoulder the offensive load.</p><h2><b>Goga Bitadze’s return for Thunder matchup brings stability as Magic face crucial road challenges</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Goga-Bitadze-35-handles-the-ball-during-the-second-half-against-the-Memphis-Grizzlies.jpg"><figcaption>© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The 25-year-old Georgian center concluded last season with averages of five points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, while shooting an efficient 60.3% from the field. His solid performance earned him a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-why-goga-bitadze-feels-indebted-to-orlando-after-pacers-stint">three-year, $25 million contract with the Magic</a> during the offseason.</p><p>The Magic, now holding a 3-4 record, are eager to secure a win on Monday to avoid a third consecutive loss. The matchup against the 6-0 Thunder marks a challenging test as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-how-kentavious-caldwell-pope-is-helping-orlando-despite-slump">Orlando nears the end of a grueling five-game road trip</a>. Following the game in Oklahoma City, the Magic will head to Indiana for a rematch against the Pacers on Wednesday night, aiming to cap off the road stretch on a positive note.</p><p>With the frontcourt reshuffled due to injuries, Bitadze’s integration back into the lineup will be closely watched. His ability to contribute immediately could play a significant role in the Magic’s efforts to stay competitive in the absence of key starters. The team is hopeful that Bitadze can replicate the impact he had last season, providing a defensive anchor and efficient scoring around the rim.</p><p>As the Magic adjust to these roster changes, the focus remains on maintaining cohesion and resilience. Players like Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs are expected to take on increased responsibilities, both offensively and defensively. The upcoming games present an opportunity for the Magic to demonstrate their depth and determination. Bitadze’s return offers a timely reinforcement, and his performance could be a deciding factor in the team’s ability to overcome the current injury setbacks.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic get key frontcourt addition amid Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr. injury concerns

<!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', '/magic-news-how-franz-wagner-must-improve-his-game-without-paolo-banchero');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Franz Wagner must improve his game without 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/2024/11/Magic-news-How-Franz-Wagner-must-improve-his-game-without-Paolo-Banchero.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>How Franz Wagner must improve his game without Paolo Banchero</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-04T10:24:06-08:00">November 4th, 10:24am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-04T10:42:03-08:00">November 4th, 10:42am</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">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-jamahl-mosley-calls-jalen-suggs-franz-wagner-to-step-up-amid-paolo-banchero-absence">Orlando Magic will be without forward Paolo Banchero</a>, who is sidelined indefinitely due to a torn right oblique. Banchero’s absence has forced Orlando to adjust its approach on both ends of the court, with forward Franz Wagner stepping into an expanded role. However, the Magic have struggled since Banchero’s injury announcement, dropping two straight games, including a 108-85 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Wagner led Orlando with 13 points, six assists, six rebounds, and two steals, though his shooting was inefficient, connecting on just six of his 15 attempts from the field.</p><p>Wagner addressed the difficulty of playing without Banchero after the game.</p><p>“It’s definitely not easy, but the NBA isn’t easy; nobody’s feeling sorry for us,” Wagner said. “Obviously, it’s a tough situation with P being out. I thought we started pretty well… understand that teams are going to make runs and trust that we’ll make our run too—then we’re not down 20-something going into the half.”</p><h2><b>Magic’s offense struggles without Paolo Banchero as Franz Wagner adjusts to expanded role</b></h2><p>The Magic trailed 65-40 at halftime, struggling to generate any offensive rhythm without Banchero’s presence. Shooting a dismal 33.3% from the field and 16.7% from three-point range, Orlando’s offense suffered from turnovers, allowing Dallas to score 14 points off their mistakes in the first half alone. The second half showed little improvement, with the team finishing at the same 33.3% field goal percentage and only slightly improving their three-point shooting to 19.5%. The loss highlighted the impact of Banchero’s absence, particularly in the paint and in facilitating the offense.</p><p>Wagner acknowledged that Banchero’s injury <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">required the entire team to adapt</a>, especially him.</p><p>“It’s definitely an adjustment, not just for me but for everybody,” Wagner noted. “Obviously, we play a lot through him, and defenses plan a lot for him. So, [it] changes our playing style, I think, a whole lot, and we got to adjust to it.”</p><p>Without Banchero, Wagner’s role has expanded beyond scoring, calling for improved playmaking and leadership on the floor. Wagner’s current season averages — 17 points, five rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 48% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range — have been solid. However, to keep the Magic competitive, Wagner will need to elevate his performance and replicate the form he displayed in the first three games of the season before a brief illness affected his play.</p><h2><b>Wagner’s expanded playmaking role is crucial amid Magic injury woes</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Franz-Wagner-22-looks-to-move-the-ball-past-Dallas-Mavericks-guard-Kyrie-Irving.jpg"><figcaption>© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In Paolo Banchero’s absence, Franz Wagner has been given more opportunities to facilitate the offense, a development he acknowledged post-game.</p><p>“Sure, I’ll probably have the ball a little more, but just try to make the right play,” he said. “Help the team, especially in those moments where we might be struggling to score or find a good look in those runs of other teams… I got to do a better job helping us get good looks.”</p><p>With an increased responsibility to create scoring opportunities, Wagner has the potential to develop his playmaking skills further. His ability to initiate the offense, particularly during scoring droughts, will be critical to the Magic’s efforts to remain competitive without Banchero. However, this added responsibility also means he will have to balance scoring with setting up teammates, a skill that could define his growth over the season.</p><p>Adding to Orlando’s challenges, starting center <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-franz-wagner-sends-risk-warning-to-wendell-carter-jr-after-injury">Wendell Carter Jr. is also facing an uncertain future</a> due to a recent injury. This means that Wagner, along with other key players, will need to step up even more to cover for the losses in the lineup.</p><p>Head coach Jamahl Mosley and the Magic coaching staff will need to adjust their offensive schemes, relying on Wagner’s versatility and on other role players to fill the gap. Orlando’s frontcourt depth and perimeter shooting will be tested as they attempt to find consistency amid a series of setbacks.</p><p>For Wagner, this period offers an opportunity to showcase his leadership and adaptability. If he can improve his efficiency and make strides in his playmaking, Wagner could help Orlando stay competitive while awaiting Banchero’s return.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Franz Wagner must improve his game without 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', '/magic-news-jamahl-mosley-calls-jalen-suggs-franz-wagner-to-step-up-amid-paolo-banchero-absence');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jamahl Mosley calls for Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner to step up amid Paolo Banchero’s absence');   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/2024/11/Jamahl-Mosley-calls-for-Jalen-Suggs-Franz-Wagner-to-step-up-amid-Paolo-Bancheros-absence.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Jamahl Mosley calls for Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner to step up amid Paolo Banchero’s absence</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-02T10:25:30-07:00">November 2nd, 10:25am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-02T10:25:30-07:00">November 2nd, 10:25am</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">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic face a challenging stretch as they adjust to <a href="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Paolo-Banchero-out-for-several-weeks-after-brutal-injury-diagnosis.jpg?w=313&amp;quality=90">life without star forward Paolo Banchero</a>, who is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks due to a torn right oblique. With Banchero out, head coach Jamahl Mosley is calling on players like Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner to elevate their roles and lead the team through this critical period. The Magic dropped to 3-3 on Friday night after a 120-109 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, a playoff rematch that showcased Suggs and Wagner stepping up, even if the result didn’t favor Orlando.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-jalen-suggs-sets-career-high-vows-to-bounce-back-after-loss-to-cavs">Jalen Suggs took center stage in Cleveland</a>, delivering a career-high 28 points, alongside eight rebounds and seven assists, as he filled the void left by Banchero’s absence. Meanwhile, Wagner contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and a steal. Suggs expressed the importance of a team-oriented approach moving forward.</p><p>“Basketball is a team game. Losing P [Paolo] sucks, the weight that he carries for a special player. He’s dearly missed on the court, but it’s a team game,” Suggs said. “We’ve got to continue to step up, continue to show who we are as a unit, not only as who Paolo is – we know who he is. He’s a special basketball player, special leader, a special human being. We gotta show who we are as a unit. I think this is a beautiful chance to do so throughout this stretch coming up.”</p><h2><b>Jalen Suggs reflects on tough loss to Cavs, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley calls for increased leadership</b></h2><p>Suggs also <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">acknowledged the difficulty</a> of the loss in Cleveland, given the Magic’s recent history against the Cavaliers.</p><p>“You hate losing in general… This building amplifies it a bit more for all of us given the history, but we can’t dwell on it. I was proud of everybody, proud of our fight, proud of how we stayed together.”</p><p>Jamahl Mosley, who has been instrumental in developing Orlando’s young core, emphasized the need for players like Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs to take on additional responsibilities. He noted that Wagner, who recently recovered from an illness, is still working his way back to full form but remains a critical part of the team’s approach.</p><p>“I think he’s still finding his way back, and it’s tough,” Mosley said of Wagner. “He’s looking to attack, and that’s the part of spelling him in and out a little bit just so he’s not burning himself too far down after coming off an illness. But this is part of what we’re gonna have to continue to do, and these guys will continue to fight each and every single game – look at the things we did well and also the things that we’ll need to clean up as we move forward.”</p><p>Mosley also shared his strategy for managing Suggs and Wagner’s playing time, aiming to maximize their effectiveness in Banchero’s absence.</p><p>“Early on in the first, just quicker subs, get them in, get them a good breather, get a little rest time then get them able to bounce back,” Mosley said. “Obviously the days we have off, be able to recover the right way, get the rest that’s needed. I think this is gonna be a lot of trial to see exactly who is stepping up and stepping into this moment.”</p><h2><b>Tristan da Silva, Anthony Black embrace increased roles</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Jamahl-Mosley-talks-with-guard-Anthony-Black.jpg"><figcaption>© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With Banchero out for the Magic, the spotlight will also shine on young players like rookie Tristan da Silva and second-year guard Anthony Black. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-tristan-da-silva-impresses-jalen-suggs-jamahl-mosley-vs-cavs">Da Silva showed promise against Cleveland</a>, scoring 17 points off the bench, while Black contributed seven points, six assists, and two rebounds as he continues to develop his game. Suggs expressed confidence in Black’s future, acknowledging his potential as a core part of the team’s future.</p><p>“AB [Anthony Black] is going to be amazing. You guys know how I feel about AB; I love him to death. He’s gonna continue to get better because he’s put in the work and he wants to put in the work, and he wants to win,” Suggs said. “Those are people that you bet on, not only in basketball but in life.”</p><p>As the Magic prepare for the next stop on their road trip — a matchup against the 3-2 Dallas Mavericks on Sunday — they face a crucial test of depth and resilience. With Suggs and Wagner leading the charge, Orlando’s young roster has an opportunity to grow and establish itself in the absence of their star player. The road trip’s remaining games will test the Magic’s adaptability as they strive to maintain momentum despite Banchero’s absence.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jamahl Mosley calls for Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner to step up amid Paolo Banchero’s absence

<!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', '/magic-news-paolo-banchero-out-several-weeks-after-brutal-injury-diagnosis');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic star Paolo Banchero out for several weeks after brutal injury diagnosis');   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/2024/10/Paolo-Banchero-out-for-several-weeks-after-brutal-injury-diagnosis.jpg"></figure><h1>Magic star Paolo Banchero out for several weeks after brutal injury diagnosis</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-31T19:01:26-07:00">October 31st, 7:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-31T19:49:21-07:00">October 31st, 7:49pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>One of the rising stars in the NBA is going to be stuck on the sidelines for a while. Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1852165370196463794" rel="noopener">suffered a torn right oblique</a> in Wednesday’s 102-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls and will be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-lands-on-injury-report-amid-hot-start">Banchero landed on the injury report</a> on Thursday and was assigned a questionable designation for Friday’s road matchup versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. A short-term recovery has quickly and cruelly been dismissed, however.</p><p>The Rookie of the Year totaled 81 points and 20 rebounds in his last two games combined, immediately <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-bancheros-stat-line-pacers-first-kind-nba-history">taking the next leap</a> in his career trajectory. His absence obviously hampers a young Magic squad that is looking to build on an impressive 2023-24 campaign, but it is also devastating for basketball fans.</p><p>Banchero is averaging 29 points, 8.8 boards and 5.6 assists while shooting nearly 50 percent through five games. Although it is a minuscule sample size, Banchero is looking like a man on a mission. And that mission is catapulting the Magic firmly into relevancy for the first time in over a decade.</p><p>A playoff berth and admirable showing against the Cavaliers this past spring marked a significant turning point for Orlando, but surpassing 45 wins for a second straight year would serve as strong evidence that the team is going to be a consistent presence in the Eastern Conference for the seasons to come. Those ambitions heavily depend on Banchero’s health, though.</p><h2><b>Can the Magic hang on without Paolo Banchero?</b></h2><p>The franchise pillar can only pray for and work towards a complete and ideally swift recovery. He cannot allow this injury obstacle to significantly affect his mindset. The Magic still view Banchero as a leader, so he needs to exude confidence even from the bench. Fortunately, the front office has done a stalwart job of stockpiling talent.</p><p>Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs are both core members of the team who are still developing in their own right. They might be able to shoulder a bigger offensive workload and keep Orlando above the danger zone for the next several weeks. The veteran leadership of two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could come in handy, too.</p><p>Prevailing against the undefeated Cavs without their best player is a daunting task, to say the least, but the Magic’s primary focus should be discovering a new identity in light of the Paolo Banchero news. Hopefully, it will not be one they have to embody for more than a month.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic star Paolo Banchero out for several weeks after brutal injury diagnosis

<!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', '/magic-news-paolo-banchero-lands-on-injury-report-amid-hot-start');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero lands on injury report amid hot start to 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/2024/10/Paolo-Banchero-lands-on-injury-report-amid-hot-start-to-season.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero lands on injury report amid hot start to season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-31T15:09:12-07:00">October 31st, 3:09pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-31T15:09:12-07:00">October 31st, 3:09pm</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">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has been <a href="https://x.com/shamscharania/status/1852086749834383467" rel="noopener">listed as questionable</a> with a right abdominal strain ahead of the team’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, following a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-cole-anthony-honest-admission-on-recent-struggles-jamahl-mosley-benching">narrow loss to the Chicago Bulls</a>, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania. Banchero’s availability will be re-evaluated prior to the game, casting uncertainty over his participation in the Magic’s first nationally televised game of the season.</p><p>The news comes as Banchero is off to a stellar start in his third NBA season, positioning himself among franchise greats. Through five games, he is averaging 29 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. These numbers have secured <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-latest-offensive-feat-sets-up-historic-scoring-season">Banchero’s place in the Orlando Magic record books</a>, ranking him fourth in points per game through the team’s first five games of a season.</p><p>Banchero’s performance also places him in elite NBA company, joining the likes of Oscar Robertson, Luka Doncic, and LeBron James as one of only four players aged 21 or younger to average at least 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists to start a season. His recent <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-describes-2k-like-feeling-after-50-point-performance">50-point outing in a win over the Indiana Pacers</a> further cemented his status as a rising star and contributed significantly to his remarkable start.</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero’s injury clouds Magic as they embrace for Cavs rematch</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Paolo-Banchero-5-during-the-second-half-at-United-Center.jpg"><figcaption>© David Banks-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Banchero’s form has been a driving force behind Orlando’s 3-2 record as the team embarks on a challenging five-game road trip. His absence, however, could have serious implications for the Magic’s offensive firepower as they prepare to face the 5-0 Cleveland Cavaliers, one of the NBA’s remaining undefeated teams. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-joins-exclusive-lebron-james-company-in-game-7-loss-to-cavs">Cavaliers eliminated the Magic</a> in a tightly contested first-round series last year, adding extra weight to Friday night’s matchup.</p><p>The timing of the injury is unfortunate for Orlando, as Banchero’s high-level play has energized the team early in the season. Banchero’s scoring, rebounding, and playmaking ability have been crucial to the Magic’s success, and a potential absence may disrupt the team’s momentum. The Magic will likely look to other players on the roster to fill the scoring void if Banchero is sidelined, though replacing his consistent impact will be no small feat.</p><p>Orlando is hopeful that Banchero’s injury will not lead to a prolonged absence, as he has quickly become a cornerstone of the franchise’s future. As the Magic continue to build around young talents like Banchero, his health remains a top priority.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero lands on injury report amid hot start to 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', '/magic-news-paolo-banchero-latest-offensive-feat-sets-up-historic-scoring-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero’s latest offensive feat sets up historic scoring 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/2024/10/0Paolo-Bancheros-latest-offensive-feat-sets-up-historic-scoring-season0.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero’s latest offensive feat sets up historic scoring season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-31T10:44:32-07:00">October 31st, 10:44am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-31T13:27:04-07:00">October 31st, 1:27pm</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">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic began their five-game road trip with a narrow 102-99 defeat to the Chicago Bulls. Although the team fell short, Paolo Banchero continued his offensive surge, recording 31 points, seven rebounds, and four assists while shooting 12-for-22 from the field. Banchero’s performance comes on the heels of his standout <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-describes-2k-like-feeling-after-50-point-performance">50-point game against the Indiana Pacers</a> and positions him among elite company in Magic franchise history.</p><p>Through the first five games of the season, Banchero’s scoring prowess has been remarkable. According to ORLmuse, Banchero currently has the <a href="https://x.com/orlmuse/status/1852004342775083285?s=46&amp;t=zbZh6HTk7I35gAbTbGAAaA" rel="noopener">fourth-highest points per game</a> (PPG) average over the first five games of any season for the Orlando Magic, putting him in the record books alongside franchise icons. He is averaging 28.5 points per game, trailing Shaquille O’Neal, who tops the list with 34.6 PPG over the same span.</p><p>Adding to his accomplishments, Banchero posted a 20-point first half against the Bulls, tying Nikola Vucevic for the f<a href="https://x.com/ORLmuse/status/1851793695273886022" rel="noopener">ifth-most 20-point halves</a> by a Magic player since 2000. However, Orlando’s momentum stalled in the second half, as Banchero and his teammates struggled offensively, managing only 12 points in the fourth quarter. Reflecting on the loss, Banchero pointed to missed opportunities and a change in strategy.</p><p>“I think we settled too much, myself included in that second half – selling too many jumpers as a team, not attacking the paint,” Banchero said. “To their credit, they [the Bulls] did a good job of walling off, plugging the gaps in the second half. I think also not having Franz out there obviously.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero cites team fatigue, defensive lapses in Magic’s road trip opener</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-franz-wagner-jonathan-isaac-injury-updates-for-bulls-showdown">Franz Wagner, recovering from illness</a>, played only 23 minutes against Chicago. He had also been limited to 11 minutes in Orlando’s victory over the Pacers. Banchero acknowledged the impact of these absences and the fatigue setting in among the roster.</p><p>“Got a couple of guys injured right now. A couple of guys sick,” Banchero shared. “I would say it is affecting our wind a little bit, but can’t make too many excuses. This is the first game of a tough road trip, so we can’t lay down, we gotta figure it out and go on to the next one.”</p><p>Defense was also a focal point for Banchero as he assessed the team’s overall approach. He <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">emphasized that defensive stops</a> have been a catalyst for the Magic’s offense, but the lack of stops against the Bulls complicated their efforts.</p><p>“When we get stops, it creates offense for us, gives guys confidence,” Banchero explained. “When we’re not getting stops and we’re grabbing it out the net every time down, it’s hard. Defenses are set, and they start to load up. If you’re having a rough night shooting from the outside, then it’s pretty hard to score. I think that’s kind of what happened tonight, and we just got to learn from it.”</p><h2><b>Banchero sets sights on undefeated Cavs after tough loss to Bulls</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Paolo-Banchero-5-gestures-after-a-steal-against-the-Chicago-Bulls.jpg"><figcaption>© David Banks-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Despite the challenging finish, Banchero showcased his resilience, launching a shot from near midcourt with only 0.1 seconds remaining to potentially send the game to overtime. The attempt went in, but the clock had expired. Banchero described his thoughts on the dramatic shot after the game.</p><p>“It did go in. I thought it should have counted – I asked, well it was 0.1 so, you can’t count obviously, but I thought there was a little more than 0.1 left on the clock with the possession before,” Banchero noted. “So, I told the ref to look at it and see if there is more than 0.1… and he didn’t, but it’s alright.”</p><p>The Magic now stand at 3-2 and face a formidable challenge next, heading to Cleveland to play the 5-0 Cavaliers, one of the only undefeated teams in the NBA. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-joins-exclusive-lebron-james-company-in-game-7-loss-to-cavs">Cavaliers eliminated the Magic in last year’s playoffs</a>, adding extra weight to Friday night’s matchup. With Paolo Banchero already making history, his performance against the Cavaliers could further solidify his trajectory toward a landmark scoring season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero’s latest offensive feat sets up historic scoring 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', '/magic-news-paolo-banchero-reveals-kevin-durant-carmelo-anthony-rookie-message');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero reveals Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony’s ‘great’ rookie message');   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/2024/10/Paolo-Banchero-reveals-Kevin-Durant-Carmelo-Anthonys-great-rookie-message.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero reveals Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony’s ‘great’ rookie message</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-30T09:50:11-07:00">October 30th, 9:50am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-30T09:50:11-07:00">October 30th, 9:50am</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>In a moment that left an indelible mark on his rookie season, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero recently shared a “great” message he received from NBA icons Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. This exchange, which took place during Banchero’s first All-Star break, has continued to fuel his drive as he begins his third season in the league. Now, following a 50-point eruption against the Indiana Pacers, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-gets-real-on-epic-50-point-game-vs-pacers">Banchero has etched his name alongside LeBron James</a> in the NBA record books as one of the youngest forwards to hit that milestone.</p><p>Banchero shared the details of his conversation with Durant and Anthony during an appearance on DraftKings’ “Pardon My Take.” The encounter occurred while attending an event at the All-Star break, where both Durant and Anthony took a moment to pull the young star aside.</p><p>“I saw them [Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant] in my rookie year at All-Star break. We were at an event, and I was at the same event – they both pulled me to the side and we were all having a conversation,” Banchero recalled.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Paolo Banchero said both Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony told him he’s gonna be great: “I saw them my rookie year at All-Star break. We were at an event &amp; I was at the same event… they were just telling me “I’m one of those guys”. I just gotta stay hungry”</p><p>🎥: <a href="https://twitter.com/PardonMyTake?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PardonMyTake</a> <a href="https://t.co/M1UFmUT3QB">pic.twitter.com/M1UFmUT3QB</a></p><p>— Fawzan Amer (@FAmer__) <a href="https://twitter.com/FAmer__/status/1851609144714752430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>“Basically, they were telling me, ‘I’m one of those guys. I just gotta stay hungry, just gotta stay in the gym,’” Banchero continued. “So, my rookie year, hearing that from those two was all I needed to hear. I didn’t need no other validation from anybody else. Those are two of my top three-four favorite guys ever.”</p><h2><b>Guidance from Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant fuels Paolo Banchero’s rapid ascent</b></h2><p>Since that pivotal interaction, Banchero has continued to fulfill the expectations placed upon him. He concluded his rookie season by claiming the NBA Rookie of the Year award, showcasing his elite scoring and playmaking ability. In the 2023-24 season, Banchero further solidified his standing in the league by securing his first All-Star appearance and propelling the Magic to their first playoff berth in over four years.</p><p>As he embarks on the 2024-25 season, Banchero has already shown signs of reaching new heights. His recent <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-describes-2k-like-feeling-after-50-point-performance">50-point performance against the Indiana Pacers</a> has placed him in elite company, joining LeBron James as one of the youngest forwards to achieve the feat. This accomplishment not only highlights his scoring prowess but also underscores his ability to make a significant impact in high-stakes games. Many analysts and fans now speculate that Banchero could be on his way to earning All-NBA honors by season’s end.</p><p>Further recognition of Banchero’s growing stature came from ESPN’s Shams Charania, who recently appeared on the “Pat McAfee Show” to discuss the league’s rising stars. Charania spoke highly of Banchero, <a href="https://x.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1851316943812284572" rel="noopener">emphasizing his rapid rise and potential</a> to shape the NBA’s future.</p><p>“He’s a star right now. He’s on the rise… When you think about his all-around game – he’s one of the best players in the NBA,” Charania said, describing Banchero as “1000% one of the young faces in the NBA.”</p><h2><b>Banchero’s rise elevates Magic’s championship aspirations</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Paolo-Banchero-5-moves-to-the-basket-guarded-by-Phoenix-Suns-forward-Kevin-Durant.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As Banchero continues to develop, his growth reflects the trajectory of the Magic organization as a whole. The Orlando Magic, who are striving to establish themselves as title contenders, view Banchero as a centerpiece around whom they can build a competitive team. His performance has invigorated the fan base, fostering optimism that the Magic can compete for deeper playoff runs in the coming years.</p><p>Banchero’s emergence in the NBA has been marked by his unique blend of versatility, athleticism, and scoring ability, which has drawn comparisons to some of the league’s premier forwards. His dedication to continuous improvement, reinforced by the advice of veterans like Durant and Anthony, has been evident in his progression over the past two seasons. The foundation laid during his rookie season has equipped him with both the confidence and skill set needed to handle the expectations of a rising star in the NBA.</p><p>With the 2024-25 season underway, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-new-mindset-jamahl-mosley">Paolo Banchero’s pursuit of greatness</a> is set to be closely watched as he looks to build on his recent performances and potentially secure his place among the league’s elite. His ability to balance scoring and playmaking will be pivotal for the Magic as they seek to capitalize on his development and pursue a deeper playoff push.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
29.0	8.8	5.6	0.8	0.6

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
29.0	8.8	5.6	0.8	0.6