Paolo Banchero Reflects on Magic’s Semifinal Exit: Offensive Woes, Playoff Fire, and the Road Ahead
After a hard-fought semifinal loss, Paolo Banchero didn’t duck the tough questions. The Magic’s rising star stepped up postgame to dissect what went wrong, what they learned, and how this fuels their fire heading into the spring.
Knicks Took Over Late - And the Magic Felt It
When asked what made the Knicks so difficult to contain-especially in the fourth quarter-Banchero pointed straight to rhythm and execution.
“They just had their guys running in a good rhythm,” he said. “Offensively we weren’t stopping them, keeping them in the half-court. They got out in transition, got some easy looks, and all their guys were confident out there offensively.”
That confidence was contagious for New York, and it showed. The Magic struggled to slow the tempo or force the Knicks into uncomfortable spots. Once the game opened up, the Knicks pounced-and the Magic couldn’t close the floodgates.
A Playoff Wake-Up Call
Despite the loss, Banchero made it clear: this wasn’t just another game-it was a measuring stick. And while the outcome stung, it’s the kind of sting that motivates.
“It’s definitely motivating,” he said. “I’m sure everybody wishes we played better on a stage like this against a good team we could see later on. It shows us what we need to work on and how we can be better later on for the springtime.”
That’s the mindset you want from your franchise cornerstone. The Magic didn’t just lose-they learned. And that learning might be the most valuable thing they take from Vegas.
Banchero’s Return: Progress, But Not Perfect
Coming back from injury, Banchero’s gradually finding his groove. He didn’t hide from the stat sheet-he knows 0-for-7 from deep isn’t going to cut it-but there were flashes of the All-Star-level impact he can have.
“I’m feeling good-feeling better every game,” he said. “Not really thinking as much about the injury. I started a little slow but got involved more as the game went on.”
He keyed a third-quarter run that briefly gave the Magic a two-point lead. But momentum slipped away, and the Knicks took control from there.
“Game kind of got out of our hands from there,” Banchero admitted. “Not happy with 0-for-7 from three, but I got to the rim pretty well, want to get to the line more, a little loose with the ball at times. I’ve been feeling better every game and hopefully can continue to find my spots and play within the team.”
The takeaway? He’s close.
Not quite at full throttle, but knocking on the door. And when he gets there, the Magic’s ceiling rises with him.
What Happened to the Third-Quarter Spark?
For a brief stretch, the Magic looked like they were ready to flip the script. Banchero was attacking downhill.
Teammates were knocking down shots. The defense tightened up.
It felt like a turning point.
But it didn’t last.
“The group we had was just playing really well-I was getting downhill, guys were hitting shots, we were getting stops,” Banchero explained. “They’re a good team, so you can’t ever relax. When you go up you can’t relax-we relaxed a little bit at the end of the quarter and let them go back up.”
That’s the kind of lesson that doesn’t always show up on film but sticks with a team. Learning how to hold a lead against a playoff-caliber opponent? That’s a skill, and the Magic are still sharpening it.
Bigger Picture: Growth Still in Progress
Zooming out, Banchero knows this group isn’t a finished product. And that’s okay. The Magic have taken real steps forward, but there’s still plenty of room to grow.
“We can be so much better in a lot of areas,” he said. “We’re not perfect and we’ve got a lot to work on.
But we’re proud as a group to get to this stage in Vegas. Would’ve liked to win and play better, but definitely a good learning experience.”
There’s no panic in his voice-just perspective. This team is young, talented, and hungry. Nights like this sting, but they also galvanize.
Suggs Injury Casts a Shadow
One tough moment in the game came when Jalen Suggs went down with a hip injury. He’d been battling through pain in recent games and gave the team everything he had in the first half before he couldn’t continue.
“He’s been battling through some pain the last few games and giving it his all for the team,” Banchero said. “You hope it’s not too bad-whatever the injury is.
You don’t want to lose him. He gave us a great effort in that first half-unfortunate he couldn’t go in the second.”
Suggs’ energy and defensive presence are a big part of what makes this Magic team tick. Losing him, even temporarily, is a blow. But the hope is that it’s not a long-term setback.
Final Thoughts
This semifinal loss wasn’t the ending the Magic wanted-but it might be the spark they needed. Banchero’s comments reflect a team that’s not satisfied, not shaken, but focused.
The Knicks exposed some flaws, sure. But they also gave the Magic a clear look at what playoff-level basketball demands.
And if Banchero’s mindset is any indication, the Magic are ready to rise to that challenge.