Paolo Banchero on Orlando Magic's Gritty Win: 'You've Got to Grind it Out'
After losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers last week, the Orlando Magic returned the favor on Monday, winning 104-94. Paolo Banchero led the way with a 20-point double-double, although it did not come without difficulty.
In the final minute of the third quarter, he went down with an ankle injury and spent the first six minutes of the fourth quarter in the locker room. He returned in time to add some offense. Joe Ingles had a very similar situation happen to him as well.
Paolo Banchero.
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
After the game, Banchero recognized that the young Magic's toughness is what led them to victory and what has propelled them all season.
"It’s just a mentality throughout the team," Banchero said. "I think Coach (Mosley) came to the huddle in the first half and was just like, ‘it’s going to be one of [those] games. It’s going to be a game where we’re not getting the benefit of the doubt from the refs. Shots may not go in or whatever it is and so you’ve got to grind it out. You’ve got to trust each other, and you’ve got to defend and get stops.’”
Both teams put trust in their defense. There were 26 turnovers in the contest, 17 of them coming from steals. Each team also committed over 22 personal fouls, well over the league average of 19.9 per game.
On defense, Banchero added a steal and no fouls. He also turned the ball over eight times, which is a career-high.
Regardless of how the Magic managed to win, they are now riding a two-game win streak. It's a far cry from the nine-game streak they rode in November, but winning hard-fought, defensive games like the one on Monday is a good sign that Orlando will still be relevant come playoff time.
