Orlando survives Indiana behind Paolo Banchero 50 pieces

On Monday night, the Indiana Pacers lost their third straight game, ending a disappointing 1-3 start to the first week of the 2024-25 NBA regular season. Against the surging Orlando Magic and their young budding superstar Paolo Banchero, the Pacers fought hard but couldn't withstand a final fourth-quarter kick and some crucial free throws that helped the Magic take the contest to the ice, 119-115.

Here are our three takeaways from the disappointing ending.

The third-year All-Star enjoyed his best game of the year despite facing a two-time All-Defensive Teamer in Pacers power forward Pascal Siakam. Over the course of 39:37, Banchero scored 50 points on 16 of 26 shooting from the floor (3 of 9 from beyond the 3-point line) and a whopping 15 of 22 shooting from the charity stripe, knocking down 13 boards, dishing out nine dimes , blocked two shots and had a steal.

Banchero made NBA and Magic history, becoming the youngest Orlando player ever to score 50 or more points at 21 years, 351 days. He is the second youngest player to score 50 points, 10 or more rebounds and five or more assists in a game – behind only LeBron James, of course. Banchero's big night marked the first 50 part of the young 2024-25 season. Considering how frequently players score these days, it probably won't be the last time.

“Man, I’m tired. I’m tired as hell,” Banchero said, according to ESPN News Services. “But it was a damn good game.”

After perhaps the Magic's second-best player, small forward Franz Wagner, exited midway through the third frame of the contest, the responsibility for scoring fell even more to Banchero, who delivered brilliantly.

“It was just a matter of being in the zone,” Banchero said. “I felt like I was at home in an open gym just working on my game. Every shot felt like it was going in and it's a good feeling when you have a day like that. Not every game will be like that, but I'm glad it was like that today.

The Pacers' newly named shooting guard was aggressive on defense all night, but he had to be aware that the referees in attendance blocked virtually all of his contacts late in the game with the contest still within Indiana's reach was. The 6-foot-11 Vanderbilt product apparently lost his temper and was whistled for a sixth and final foul on substitute Anthony Black with 2:07 left. He was ejected from the game, forcing Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle to substitute eighth man Ben Sheppard.

In 30:54 minutes, Nesmith finished the game with 10 points on 3 of 9 shooting from the floor (0 of 1 from distance) and 4 of 6 shooting from the charity stripe, four rebounds, a dime and a strike. Nesmith left at a critical time. The Magic were in the midst of a 20-7 run that helped them climb from a deficit to a 115-112 lead. Indiana certainly could have used Nesmith's defense late.

Indiana's best player through the challenging first four games was undoubtedly Pascal Siakam. But to reach the heights they hope for, the Pacers are hoping All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton emerges from his brutal shooting slump. That wasn't the case again on Monday evening.

In 35:03 of play, the 6-foot-2 Iowa State product scored 19 points on a mediocre 6 of 15 shooting from the field (4 of 9 from deep) and 3 of 4 shooting from the foul line. while also contributing 10 assists and nine rebounds as well as a steal. He's averaging just 14.0 points on the year on a still brutal .339/.265/.636 shooting line, as well as 5.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds. These aren't all-star numbers.

Other Pacers: Magic Star is out for the remainder of Monday's Indiana game