Paolo Banchero reaches 28 points through three quarters on opening night

He added 7 assists and 5 rebounds in 29 minutes.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 37m1 min read

Paolo Banchero thru three quarters: 28 PTS 5 REB 7 AST 29 MIN https://t.co/sRxi8WoHmO Via @OrlandoMagic on X

What happened: After scoring 22 first-half points on 6-of-7 shooting, Banchero added six points and two assists across nine third-quarter minutes. He opened the night by knocking down all three of his three-point attempts in the first 20 minutes, including an early stepback triple.

Why it matters: The three-quarter scoring total already eclipses the 25-point mark Banchero recorded in his preseason finale after spending the offseason targeting an offensive leap. His playmaking volume and perimeter efficiency set an early pace to begin the 2026-27 regular season.

By the numbers: Banchero produced 0.97 points per minute across his first three stints on the floor, building on a preseason run that featured a 16-point opening half and four assists in his final tune-up.

What to watch: Fourth-quarter action will determine his final full-game totals for opening night.

Sources

@OrlandoMagic 2026-10-22T01:19:18.288336+00:00

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