It’s desperation time for the Magic, who have lost the first two games of their series vs. Boston. If Orlando is going to get back in this best-of-seven set, it’ll need a big-time performance from Paolo Banchero. Ahead of Game 3, what can the Magic expect from their face of the franchise?
The Magic enter tonight’s contest as 4.5-point underdogs, with the over/under set at 197 points. Here’s the best Paolo Banchero prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook before Friday’s game tips off.
Paolo Banchero O 13.5 assists + rebounds
As previously mentioned, it’s put up or shut up time for the Magic. Game 2 presented a golden opportunity with Boston’s leading scorer, Jayson Tatum (wrist), ruled out. Unfortunately for Orlando, the Celtics managed to grind out a 109-100 victory. In spite of the loss, Banchero delivered a phenomenal stat line. Over 43 minutes, the forward dropped 32 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
It’s no secret that this Magic offense is entirely dependent on Banchero and Franz Wagner. That’s enough against most middling teams in the Eastern Conference, but not the defending champions. The Celtics have held Orlando to 100 points or less over their last four matchups, including the regular season.
It’s a tall order for Banchero to deliver 30 points for the third straight game against an elite defense. Still, the 22-year-old’s massive usage rating ensures plenty of touches on any given night. That should lead to positive offensive possessions for the All-Star, even if someone else ends up scoring.
Through two contests, the Celtics have done a terrific job at limiting extra possessions for the Magic. Yet, despite Orlando’s lack of scoring, Banchero has notched at least 14 assists + rebounds in each contest. In fact, the Duke alum has reached that number in seven of his previous ten appearances.
Out of respect to Boston, I’m going to shy away from Banchero’s point total, currently set at 28.5 (-110). However, an increased effort on defense should lead to more assists in Orlando. In front of his home crowd, look for Paolo to act as both a distributor and rebounder on Friday.
