Magic Star Paolo Banchero After Win Over Nuggets: 'I Could Have Played Better'
Even after a 122-120 road win over the defending NBA Champion Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero felt like he left meat on the bone with his performance.
"Obviously coming off the last game, I knew that there was going to be a lot of attention, especially with the guys we had out," Banchero said. "They started the game blitzing, tried to get guys involved early and then just let the game come to me. I thought I missed a lot of easy shots too. I ended up with 32, which is great, but I feel like I could have played better on that end. But I wasn't even worried about it, I was worried about doing whatever we could to stay in the game and claw back into the lead."
Banchero finished the game with 32 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals. It was the sophomore forward's first career triple-double and he became the 4th-youngest player to ever record a 30 point triple-double behind Luka Doncic, LeBron James and De'Aaron Fox.
Paolo Banchero recorded his first career triple-double in a win over the Denver Nuggets.
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He did shoot just 8 of 21 from the field and 1 of 4 from deep, but was able to make an impact at the free throw line, hitting 15 of his 19 attempts. The 15 free throws made and the 19 free throws attempted were both career-highs for Banchero, who averages 7.4 free throw attempts per game for his young career.
It was a big win for Orlando as it was missing multiple key players due to injury. Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., Gary Harris, Joe Ingles, Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz and Goga Bitadze all missed the game against Denver.
The Magic have now swept the defending champion Nuggets for the season after they defeated them 124-119 at home during Orlando's nine-game winning streak.
Today, the Magic will return home for a bout with the Atlanta Hawks at 6 p.m. before hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Orlando will then head back on the road for another four-game stretch.
