Paolo Banchero scored 36 points on Tuesday night, marking the third time he has reached 30 or more points in his last five games. However, the Orlando Magic lost their sixth straight game.
The Cleveland Cavaliers won against the Magic, 136-131, with Donovan Mitchell contributing 42 points and the Cavs hitting 60% of their shots. The Magic are now tied for 10th place and have allowed 264 points in their last two games.
Banchero’s scoring doesn’t always translate to wins
Orlando is 6-6 in games where Banchero scores 30-plus points. He has totaled 75 points in two recent losses, largely due to poor team defense and limited support from other players.
The Magic are dealing with multiple injuries, with starters Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner out, along with reserves Anthony Black and Jonathan Isaac. Banchero is taking on a significant offensive role for a team struggling to score, but he has nearly as many turnovers (10) as assists (11) in the last two games.
While Banchero has been high-scoring, his assist-to-turnover ratio and below-average three-point shooting (31.7%) may affect the effectiveness of a Banchero-focused offense. Even when Orlando attempted a comeback and closed the gap to three points in the final minute, Banchero frequently faced double coverage while driving to the basket.