The Magic Insider

Magic PF Paolo Banchero 'Perfect' in Win vs. Nets

Paolo Banchero didn't miss a shot in the Orlando Magic's win against the Brooklyn Nets.

Jeremy Brener

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ORLANDO - Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero couldn't miss in the team's 114-106 win against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night at the Kia Center.

Banchero was a perfect 6 of 6 from the field and scored a team-high 21 points in the win against the Nets with an 8 of 9 performance from the free throw line.

Paolo Banchero
Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

“I thought he did a great job of recognizing and reading the way the defense was loading up on him," coach Jamahl Mosley said postgame. "He had some great passes cross court, recognizing where the double teams were coming from. But he had a level of patience and poise, being able to read the game and his teammates continue to trust him, and he continues to make the right play.”

Banchero also added nine assists to the box score, a sign that he was reading the Nets' defense like a book.

In just his second season, Banchero has shown tremendous attention to detail, and it shows on the court. His basketball IQ is incredibly strong for someone who just turned 21 years old and is still only in his second season. It's why he was named an All-Star this season.

The question remains, however, if Banchero can flex this effort in a playoff setting. While he may not be able to reach that advanced level of play this season, it should only be a matter of time before the Magic's centerpiece puts them in position to truly be a threat to win it all if he continues along this pace.

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The Magic returns to the court tomorrow night against the Toronto Raptors on the road. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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