Paolo Banchero explodes with 50 points as Magic top Pacers

Paolo Banchero became Orlando's first player with a 50-point game in 20 years and flirted with a triple-double to lead the Magic past the Indiana Pacers 119-115 on Monday night.

Banchero finished the game with 50 points, tying Tracy McGrady's franchise record for points scored in a half by scoring 37 points in the first half.

While Banchero missed McGrady's Magic record of 62 points in a game in March 2004, the third-year forward joined McGrady, Shaquille O'Neal and Nick Anderson as Orlando's only 50-point scorers.

Banchero shot 16 of 26 from the field and made 11 of 15 free throws. He added a game-high 13 rebounds and a team-best nine assists.

His heroics offset a balanced scoring performance by the Pacers, who lost their third straight game and suffered an overtime loss in the return game against Philadelphia on Sunday.

With 26 points, Pascal Siakam led six Indiana scorers in double figures. Among them was Tyrese Haliburton, who posted his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 assists. Haliburton also had nine rebounds.

Haliburton helped Indiana to a 39-22 third-quarter score and turned a 12-point halftime deficit into a 98-93 lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Pacers built an eight-point cushion in the fourth before Orlando fought back. The Magic held Indiana to five points in the final five minutes while also erasing the deficit.

After a slow third quarter, Banchero scored nine points with 6:56 left in the finale. Jalen Suggs played a big role down the stretch, hitting a free throw after Aaron Nesmith was whistled for a technical foul to give Orlando a 113-12 lead with 2:07 left.

After Haliburton hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 53 seconds left, Suggs dished out the last of his seven assists to Anthony Black with a three-pointer that gave Orlando the lead for good, 118-15.

Suggs finished the game with 25 points, shot 6 of 13 from 3-point range and grabbed five rebounds. Wendell Carter Jr.'s game-winning rebound off a Myles Turner miss gave him a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Moritz Wagner scored 14 points for the Magic off the bench.

Obi Toppin scored 14 points off the Pacers bench, while Turner and Andrew Nembhard added 13 points each. Nesmith had 10 points before the foul.

–Field level media