All-Star Paolo Banchero puts up 23 big points in Magic win over Timberwolves

The Orlando Magic have more reasons to celebrate after Paolo Banchero was announced as a member of the All-Star lineup this season. The 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year put up 23 points and six assists to lead his team past the top team in the West, the Minnesota Timberwolves, 108-106.

WAGIC WIN🪄 pic.twitter.com/prJ0ReFlAJ

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 3, 2024

The overall top pick of the 2022 NBA Draft drained two clutch free throws, giving the Magic a 107-103 lead with 9.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Wendell Carter Jr. also came up big and scored 18 points with 12 rebounds. Franz Wagner tallied 19 points.

The two teams were trading buckets all through the game, but the last stretch saw the Magic going aggressive to the rim and getting freebies from the line. Anthony Edwards made a 3-point jumper from an assist by Karl-Anthony Towns in the last two seconds of the match, but they ran out of time to get another game-saving possession.

Edwards and Rudy Gobert supplied the Timberwolves with 22 points each, with the Frenchman also supplying a game-high 16 rebounds. Towns followed with 19 points and two blocks.

The Magic improved to 26-23 as the eighth seed in the East, while the Timberwolves tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for first place in the West with a record of 34-15.

There was plenty of brotherhood in Minnesota though as fellow All-Stars Banchero and Edwards acknowledged each other after the game.

 

P5 🤝 Ant

couple of all-stars ?? pic.twitter.com/BocjmRv643

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 3, 2024