ORLANDO, Fla. — Paolo Banchero recorded the first 50-point game of the young NBA season Monday night against the Indiana Pacers — and tied an Orlando Magic franchise record in the process.
Banchero finished the night with 50 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists in Orlando’s 119-115 victory.
At 21 years and 351 days old, Banchero became the youngest player in Magic franchise history to record a 50-point game, and the second-youngest player with 50 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a game in NBA history, trailing only LeBron James (20 years, 80 days) in 2005 against Toronto.
Banchero had the most assists (9) and the second-most rebounds (13, trailing only 18 by Shaquille O’Neal in 1994) in a 50-point game in Magic history.
He scored 37 in the first two quarters, tying the franchise record for points in a half set by Tracy McGrady, also in the first half, for Orlando against Denver on March 9, 2003.
McGrady still also owns the franchise’s single-game scoring record, with 62 against the Wizards on March 10, 2004. That was also the last time a Magic player hit 50, meaning the franchise had gone 20 years and 232 days between 50-point games — the fifth-longest drought in NBA history.
Banchero, the league’s rookie of the year two seasons ago and an All-Star last year, was 13-of-17 from the field in the half. He also had seven rebounds and six assists, becoming the first player with 35 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a first half since play-by-play was first tracked in 1996-97.
By comparison, the Pacers starters combined for 37 points in the first half.
Banchero’s career-high entering Monday was 43 points, set Jan. 3 against Sacramento. There were four first-half performances of 37 or more points last season — two by Phoenix’s Devin Booker, one by Karl-Anthony Towns (then of Minnesota, now of New York) and one by Dallas’ Luka Doncic.
ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
