Paolo Banchero delivered a composed performance as the Orlando Magic secured a 113-105 win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 3, emphasizing poise and execution after a late collapse nearly cost his team.
“You talking about at the end? Yeah. No. They got back in the game,” Banchero said. “Started making some plays. Cade got going and I thought we just did a good job of staying poised in the timeout when they tied it up.”
The All-Star forward framed the closing stretch with playoff clarity. “Just realizing that, hey, it’s 0-0 now. We got to go win the last four minutes,” he added. “So yeah, just very composed from the team and got the job done.”
Banchero finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, impacting the game beyond scoring when Detroit loaded up defensively. “I can feel how they load up when I have the ball,” he said. “Just trying to make the right play, right read, guys are open.”
His biggest moment came on a late three-pointer that helped Orlando regain control. “I shot it, didn’t feel bad,” Banchero said. “And then it bounced off the back rim, but when I saw how it bounced, went directly up. So the optimist in me was like, that’s going in.”
He tied the shot to a mindset adjustment from earlier in the postseason. “I said after the Philly loss, basketball gods don’t reward hesitation,” he explained. “That one I didn’t hesitate and they blessed me with that make.”
Orlando’s ability to respond after blowing a 17-point fourth-quarter lead reflected growth, according to Banchero. “When we got in the huddle once they tied it up, nobody was panicking,” he said. “Everybody just understood the moment.”
Franz Wagner’s late scoring also stood out, continuing a trend in the series. “Franz always, he just gets going later in the games,” Banchero said. “Those two shots he hit were huge. Huge shots. He’s that guy for a reason.”
Wendell Carter Jr.’s interior presence shaped the matchup, finishing with 14 points and 17 rebounds. “He’s just been a monster this series,” Banchero said. “When he’s playing like that, we’re a really good team.”
Banchero also pointed to Desmond Bane’s perimeter shooting, as the guard hit seven threes. “He just came in and cut it loose from the jump tonight,” he said. “That’s what we need.”
The Magic, now up 2-1 in the series, are leaning on experience and internal standards. “It’s not new to us anymore,” Banchero said. “Once we got into the play-in, got our spot in the playoffs, it’s a new season.”
With Game 4 set for Monday in Orlando, the focus has already shifted. “You got to wash this one off after today and just refocus,” Banchero said. “It is an opportunity.”
The forward also highlighted the home environment at Kia Center. “We’ve always played well here in the playoffs and that crowd gives us an extra boost,” he said. “First time I’ve seen a blackout here. That was dope.”
At the core of Orlando’s push is a competitive identity shaped over time. “We got a lot of competitors on this team,” Banchero said. “We all believe in each other and we all hold each other to a standard.”
