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Paolo Banchero Makes Admission After Magic's Win Over Celtics

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Reign Amurao | Last updated Apr 25, 2025 11:46 PM ET

In Game 3 of their first-round series, the Orlando Magic defeated the Boston Celtics on Friday. The Magic secured home-court advantage with a 95-93 victory. Paolo Banchero's 29 points were a major factor in their victory. However, Franz Wagner's late-game heroics sealed the victory for Orlando.

Wagner did more than score the basketball as he had seven rebounds and eight assists. He attacked the basket aggressively as he struggled to be a consistent threat from deep. During the final two minutes, he made an important back-to-back layup against big man Kristaps Porzingis.

After the win, Banchero was vocal about performing at the highest level for his team, especially in the playoffs.

"I mean, I just love moments like these," Banchero told ESPN, via Fawzan Amer of "The Sixth Man Show." "Playing in the playoffs with my teammates, it don’t get much better than this."

Orlando Magic All-Star forward Paolo Banchero was asked on ESPN postgame why he plays his best in the playoffs:

“I mean, I just love moments like these. Playing in the playoffs with my teammates, it don’t get much better than this.”
— Fawzan Amer (@FAmer__) April 26, 2025

Head coach Jamahl Mosley spoke to the media following the victory regarding the chemistry Banchero and Wagner have developed.

"Their toughness, their resilience, their ability to just stay the course no matter what's happening in the game," Mosley told reporters. "And then playing off of one another. Getting into the huddle, it's big when one guy can say, 'No, give him the ball, no you give him the ball.'"

Jamahl Mosley told reporters postgame in Orlando that there were multiple times during the game the team would get in the huddle and Paolo and Franz would point at each other and say “give him the ball, no you give him the ball.” Both have become a dynamic duo: pic.twitter.com/FJIWBEFhtX
— Fawzan Amer (@FAmer__) April 26, 2025