Friday night, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Orlando Magic in a tight one, 109-106, that featured 41 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo and 29 from Damian Lillard, but postgame the victors’ best player and coach had strong words of praise for opposing forward Paolo Banchero.
It was Banchero’s first game since October 30 due to an injured oblique. After 34 games out, he put up 34 points against Milwaukee on 11 of 21 from the floor.
Giannis on Paolo:
“He plays at a very, very high level. A guy who can operate at all three levels. Big, can defend. He does the little things that his team needs to win games. Happy that he’s back healthy. Obviously, Orlando is a very, very dangerous team.”
Giannis also referenced Orlando’s size and youth as a whole, hinting that they would be a tough opponent for anyone in the playoffs. In his third season, the 6’10”, 250-pound Banchero turned 22 in November. If the two teams remain the four and five-seeds in the East, a Giannis-Paolo matchup is indeed what the league will get.
Paolo Banchero Puts On One-Man Show, Outdone By Giannis and Milwaukee Bucks
Although Banchero returned, the Magic played Friday missing several key pieces. Forward Franz Wagner (24.4 PPG) has been out since early December, guard Jalen Suggs (16.4 PPG) sat out his fourth straight and Gary Harris his fifth. None of them will play Sunday vs Philadelphia.
Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hurt his knee during the first half against the Bucks and did not return, though he should return Sunday.
Despite all the injuries, Orlando played Milwaukee tough as 6.5-point underdogs and led 81-78 through three quarters. Banchero was limited to 27 minutes in his first game back but made the most of his playing time, putting the team on his back with an impressive two-way performance. Just a 32.5% 3-point shooter in his career, he punished the Bucks for leaving him open, sinking 5 of 8 triples.
Fortunately for Milwaukee, they have a superhero of their own in Giannis. Muscling through a difficult night from the free throw line (3-10), he asserted his will in the paint to go 19 of 29 from the field–including 10 dunks.
Not to be outdone on defense, he grabbed 14 rebounds and came up with 3 steals, 2 blocks. Lillard added 7 assists and 3 steals of his own. Even with Banchero’s heroics, Milwaukee’s dominant duo proved to be too much.
On the strength of winning percentage, the victory nudged the Bucks (20-16) past Orlando (22-18) into fourth in the conference.
Eliciting Doc Rivers’ Praise Latest Addition to Banchero’s Ever-Growing List of Achievements
While Milwaukee took the victory, Doc made sure to give Banchero his flowers, too: “He was great. Good to be young, you miss that many games and you come out with 34 points, 7 rebounds, and I bet he missed five shots he would love to have over again. That was unbelievable by him.”
The 2022 first overall pick from Duke is no stranger to accolades. Averaging 20.0 PTS, 6.9 REB and 3.7 APG, Banchero won Rookie of the Year in 2022-23, dragging Orlando from the basement to mediocrity. In his second season, he played all but two games and improved his numbers across the board (22.6, 6.9, 5.4). The Magic made the playoffs and finished above .500 for the first time in six years.
Limited to just six games this season, hopefully he can stay healthy the rest of the way for an already compromised squad. 
For their part, the Bucks have Giannis and Lillard cooking together after an 8-game stretch missing one or the other or with both present but sluggish following illness. Antetokounmpo continues his longshot campaign for a third MVP: 31.7 PTS, 11.9 REB, 6.1 AST on 60.2% shooting.
Despite Giannis’ consistent dominance, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is currently running away with the award, and Nikola Jokic is a clear second. Giannis’ consensus odds are up to +1800 (+2200 at ESPN Bet).
The Bucks head to the Big Apple on Sunday for a marquee date with the Knicks (25-14).. Another round with Banchero is not faraway, however, as Milwaukee will host the Magic this Wednesday in the second half of a back-to-back.
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