The first 50-point game of the 2024-25 NBA season belongs to Paolo Banchero.

In arguably the best performance of the first week of the regular season, the Orlando Magic forward scored the highest points of his career, collected 13 rebounds and dished out nine assists to lead his team to a 119-115 victory over the Indiana Pacers at the Kia Center .

“I’m tired,” Banchero told FanDuel Sports Network’s Dante Marchitelli after the final buzzer. “I’m tired as hell. But it was a damn good game. Credit to (the Pacers) – they made us fight for every minute of the game. They forced us to fight. We had to come back. I’m just proud of my team.”

The Magic trailed 98-93 at the end of the third quarter, but rallied in the fourth quarter thanks to nine points from Banchero.

PAOLO AND-1… UP TO 48 PTS 🔥

Pacers-Magic 1-point game late in the 4th quarter on NBA League Pass!

📲 https://t.co/5o9gBCiWA7 pic.twitter.com/HpB4S556zF

– NBA (@NBA) October 29, 2024

Banchero, 21, made the Eastern Conference All-Star team last season and led Orlando to the playoffs, where it lost a first-round series to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.

Banchero joins Tracy McGrady, Shaquille O’Neal and Nick Anderson as the fourth player in Magic history to score 50 points in a game. McGrady accomplished this feat four times, including a franchise-record 62 points on March 10, 2004.

Twenty years passed before Orlando had another 50-point game: Banchero’s performance on Monday night.

What Banchero looked like on his monster night

Everything the Magic wanted to see from Banchero, their budding superstar, was on display during his 50-point performance. He got going in the first quarter by living in the alley. He had his mail forwarded to the team while he bullied every match the Pacers threw at him.

Once the time came, Banchero stepped outside to the 3-point line, and it felt like one heat check after another. Banchero had 37 at halftime, and it wasn’t just because he hit a ton of free throws (although he did make nine of them). Most of the time he was a calculated bully.

Paolo Banchero MONSTER 37 points in the first half AND a triple-double clock 🤯

🪄 37 PTS
🪄 7 REB
🪄 6 AST
🪄 3 3 p.m
🪄 13-17 FGM

He joins James Harden and Donovan Mitchell as the third player in the play-by-play era (1997-1998) to record at least 35 PTS, 5 REB and 5 AST in a half! 👏 pic.twitter.com/faHD7Vdq4b

– NBA (@NBA) October 29, 2024

Then Banchero showed some resilience by surviving a difficult third quarter. He only had four points, all at the charity stripe, and many of his shots fell short. Maybe he put pressure on (four turnovers). Maybe he didn’t have legs; It’s still early in the season.

The Magic allowed Indiana to take control of the game and needed their star to re-establish themselves. Banchero accomplished this by boiling the paint again and getting to the free throw line. He left a few points on the table by missing six free throws in the second half, but that’s the Banchero Orlando wants to see. Calculated. Gentle grip. Adapts when he misses the game a bit. Eliminate against a good opponent. — Zach Harper, NBA staff writer

What this means for Banchero and the ceiling of magic

Making shots outside the basket is still a fluid concept for Banchero. In his first three games, he struggled to convert shots between the basket and the 3-point line, and he wasn’t particularly efficient at the basket either. But he keeps getting to the free throw line and you see him create shots that he can easily make.

If Banchero realizes his scoring potential even more, the Magic can make a strong playoff run. They’re probably still a year and an established elite group away from truly contending in the East, but Banchero and these Magicians can ruin almost anyone’s season. – Harper

Required reading

(Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)