Paolo Banchero struggles with shot vs. Cleveland

It had been a rough preseason for Banchero thus far, so it was good to see him have a productive outing. He has been a polarizing player in fantasy basketball throughout his career, mostly because of his subpar efficiency. This field goal percentage is not sustainable for him, but any improvement under new head coach Sean Sweeney would do wonders for his impact.

The first look at newly-minted head coach Sean Sweeney’s squad was encouraging as Banchero dished out five assists, routinely finding Wendell Carter Jr. at the rim or Desmond Bane in space for a pull-up three-pointer. He also managed to get to the line for 10 free-throw attempts despite playing just two quarters. The 23-year-old foundational building block is coming off a disappointing third season where he averaged a career-low 22.2 points and shot just 30 percent from distance.

Banchero recovered from a rough Game 6 to nearly total 40 points on Sunday. He shot well from beyond the arc and was efficient inside the three-point line, while functioning as Orlando’s best rebounder and playmaker. Yet, the outstanding individual performance was not enough to extend the Magic’s season. As Banchero’s fourth NBA season ends, fantasy managers will hope that the former first-overall pick can put forth a more productive and consistent fifth season to bounce back from an unspectacular 2025-26.

After going off for 45 points in Game 5, Banchero had a miserable Game 6 as the Magic missed out on their second opportunity to close out the series. Missing all nine of his three-point attempts, the 6-foot-10 forward shot 4-of-20 from the field overall. A 9-of-12 night at the foul line resulted in Banchero producing a respectable point total, but there’s no denying that this was a bad effort from him. He and the Magic will look to redeem themselves in Game 7 on Sunday.

While Banchero’s 45 points equaled those of Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, the Magic forward will likely head back to Orlando with some regrets. Banchero shot 5-of-12 from the foul line, and Orlando made 16 of its 30 attempts as a team. There’s no guarantee that the Magic would have clinched their spot in the second round with a better effort at the charity stripe, but it wouldn’t have hurt their cause. Banchero’s 45 points were one shy of the Magic franchise record for a postseason game, which Dwight Howard and Tracy McGrady share. Orlando will look to end the series at home on Friday.

Banchero was excellent in the Game 3 win over the Pistons on Saturday, especially in the biggest moments of the game. With a five point lead and less than a minute remaining in regulation, the 23-year-old power forward shot a three-pointer from the top of the key that bounced in after hitting the back of the rim and going straight up. It put the game away for Orlando as they took a 2-1 series lead. The Magic will be at home for Game 4 on Monday as they look to extend their lead in the series.

Banchero’s production on Wednesday wasn’t as spectacular as Sunday’s in the series opener. However, the former first-overall pick pieced things together throughout his 34 minutes, ultimately leading to a solid stat line. He shot inefficiently from the field and struggled greatly at the charity stripe, but still finished as one of Orlando’s top scorers in the game. Banchero also contributed on the glass and as a passer before the final horn sounded. The Magic will go home for Game 3, where Banchero could be poised for a bounce-back performance.

Banchero rode the hot hand into Sunday’s performance and delivered another fine offensive outing in Game 1. As a result of efficient shooting, the former first-overall pick led Orlando in scoring and was the only one to reach the 20-point mark, even without tallying any points in the fourth quarter. Still, his scoring contributions through three periods helped the Magic build and mostly maintain a lead from start to finish. He also chipped in as a passer and came within one rebound of a double-double. Banchero played a strong game on Sunday and has Orlando in position to potentially steal two games on the road to open the series.

Banchero led all Magic players in scoring during his 33 minutes of game action on Friday, which was complemented by solid playmaking for his teammates, and good activity on the defensive end. The efficient double-digit scoring performance was a nice response to a difficult outing against the 76ers on Wednesday. But with the Play-In Tournament in the books, Banchero starts with a clean slate against the first-seeded Pistons of the Eastern Conference. Game 1 will take place on Sunday.

This certainly wasn’t the performance the Magic were hoping to get out of their star player. Banchero and Franz Wagner combined for just 30 points in the loss, though Banchero’s inefficiencies stuck out. He also shot 7-of-22 and had six turnovers in the regular season finale on Sunday. They’ll need him to be much better against the Hornets on Friday to keep their season alive.