LAS VEGAS — By halftime of Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal between the Magic and Knicks, Paolo Banchero had only notched 8 points when he shot 3-for-8 from the floor, missing all four of his 3-point attempts.
By the end of the contest?
The Orlando star totaled 25 points, including 9 in the fourth, when he added eight rebounds, three assists and a steal as the Magic fell by 12 to New York, coming up short of a championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
It was only Banchero’s fourth game back after he missed 10 because of a left groin strain.