The Orlando Magic watched a comfortable lead fall apart in their last chance to close their first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons at home.
ORLANDO — As the buzzer rang out to indicate half time in Game 6 and the Orlando Magic made their way toward the locker room with a chorus of cheers behind them, it looked as if they had the Detroit Pistons on the ropes, and that they were well on their way to winning their first playoff series since 2010.
The Magic led the Pistons, 60-38 after a blistering second quarter in which they rarely missed. Little did they know, the second half would serve as a backdrop for disaster, as they choked away what would be a 24-point lead after failing to score even 20 points over the final periods.
By the end of the game, everyone in a Magic uniform who touched the ball had a hand in their collapse that resulted in a 93-79 loss. But, alongside Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero’s evening can be placed among the evening’s worst failures.
After notching 45 points in a duel for the ages against Cade Cunningham in a 116-109 Game 5 loss, Banchero was rendered completely ineffective in Game 6 as he went 4-20 from the field and 0-9 from 3-point range. After the game, he addressed the collapse by the Magic.
"I think they just turned up their defensive pressure and I think you know we just got caught on our heels," Banchero said. "And then, you know, game pressure builds and yeah, you know, they went on a pretty big run there and we didn't, we didn't score."
The Magic missed 23-straight shots, the most by any playoff team in the century, per ESPN Insights. However, Banchero did not have much to say regarding Orlando's historic skid and other offensive droughts the team has faced during the series.
"I don't know," he said. "I'm not really thinking about it. You know, at this point, it's all about Game 7."
After falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the first round two years ago, Banchero understands what he needs to do for his team as a leader.
"Yeah, just keep everybody together," Banchero said. "Series ain't over, you know, they've clawed their way to tie it up 3-3, you know, we won a game there to start the series and we just got to go do it again.
"So, can't hang our heads. got to go to sleep and wake up and get on the plane with a clear mind and do whatever we got to do to get the win."
In the series against Cleveland, the Magic were able to overcome a 2-0 deficit and win each of their three games at home to force the win-or-go-home scenario. Now, they are trying to avoid blowing a 3-1 lead.
Despite a catastrophic loss on Friday, Banchero emphasized the positive attributes that have made Orlando successful in the series.
"I think our toughness, our defense," Banchero said. "You know, only held them to 93 points tonight, which is another great defensive game. We just, you know, came up short offensively. So, I think our defense and togetherness and toughness is what we're gonna have to lean on in Game 7, and I think shots are gonna fall."
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