Paolo Banchero nets 50, including Magic-record 37 in 1st half.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Paolo Banchero had the best night of his career Monday.Banchero tied the Orlando Magic record for points in a half, scoring 37 in the first two quarters against the Indiana Pacers. He finished with a career-high 50 points -- tying the fifth-highest scoring effort in Magic history. Orlando won 119-115.
"Man, I'm tired; I'm tired as hell," Banchero said after the first 50-point effort in the NBA this season. "But it was a hell of a game."
Banchero, the league's Rookie of the Year two seasons ago and an All-Star last year, was 13-of-17 from the field in the half and finished 16-of-26 from the floor. He also had 13 rebounds and nine assists.
It was just being in the zone," Banchero said. "Felt like I was in an open gym, back at home, just working on my game. Every shot felt like it was going in and it's a good feeling when you've got a day like that. Not every game is going to be like that, but I'm glad today was."
At 21 years and 351 days old, Banchero became the youngest player in Magic history to record a 50-point game, and the second-youngest player with 50 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in an NBA game, trailing only LeBron James (20 years, 80 days) in 2005 against the Toronto Raptors.
Tracy McGrady still holds the franchise's single-game scoring record, with 62 against the Wizards on March 10, 2004. That was also the last time a Magic player hit 50, meaning the franchise had gone 20 years and 232 days between 50-point games -- the fifth-longest drought in NBA history.
The other 50-point games in Magic history: Shaquille O'Neal had 53 against Minnesota on April 20, 1994; McGrady had 52 against Chicago on Feb. 21, 2003; McGrady had 51 against Denver on Nov. 14, 2003; Nick Anderson had 50 against New Jersey on April 23, 1993; and McGrady had 50 again against Washington on March 8, 2002.
Banchero had the most assists (9) and the second-most rebounds (13, trailing only 18 by O'Neal) in a 50-point game in Magic history.
His 37 points in the half tied the mark set by McGrady, also in the first half, for Orlando against Denver on March 9, 2003.
"That first half was a magical first half, for sure," Banchero said.
By comparison, the Pacers starters combined for 37 points in the first half.
Banchero's career high entering Monday was 43 points, set Jan. 3 against Sacramento. There were four first-half performances of 37 or more points last season -- two by Phoenix's Devin Booker, one by Karl-Anthony Towns (then of Minnesota, now of New York) and one by Dallas' Luka Doncic.
Youngest With 50-10-5 Game*
| Date | Player | Years-Days | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | LeBron James | 20-80 | Raptors |
| Mon. | Paolo Banchero | 21-351 | Pacers |
| 1966 | Rick Barry | 22-215 | Royals |
| *NBA history |
Joel Embiid suspended 3 games for shoving media member.
Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid will be suspended for three games without pay for shoving Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes after Saturday's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the NBA announced on Tuesday."Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA," Joe Dumars, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, said in a statement announcing the suspension. "While we understand Joel was offended by the personal nature of the original version of the reporter's column, interactions must remain professional on both sides and can never turn physical."
The incident took place Saturday night, and came in reaction to Embiid taking issue with a recent column by Hayes that mentioned Embiid's son and late brother -- both named Arthur -- while questioning Embiid's professionalism and effort to stay in shape.
After shouting at Hayes during an exchange of words, Embiid shoved the columnist.
Embiid has yet to play this season because of ongoing issues with his left knee, which he had surgery on last season and limited his play during a first round loss to the New York Knicks in the postseason. He is on Philadelphia's current West Coast road trip, which the 76ers opened Monday with a 118-116 loss to the Phoenix Suns in what was Paul George's debut with the franchise.
Embiid will lose $1,063,778 in pay during the suspension, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks, and the suspension will begin whenever Embiid is deemed ready to return to the court.
That could come as soon as Wednesday's game against the LA Clippers -- George's former team -- at the newly opened Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Philadelphia has yet to release its injury report for the game as of 5 p.m. ET Tuesday and Embiid could potentially be upgraded to a return to play.
If he is deemed ready to play Wednesday, he would miss that game, Friday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers and Sunday's game back in Philadelphia against the Charlotte Hornets. That would make his first game of the year come next Tuesday in Philadelphia against the Knicks in the 76ers' opening game of Emirates NBA Cup action.
If his suspension doesn't begin until Friday, then Embiid's first game back would be next Wednesday, also at home, against the currently undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers.
Sources: Nuggets' Aaron Gordon (calf) out multiple weeks.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon will miss multiple weeks because of a right calf strain, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.Gordon suffered the injury in the Nuggets' win over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night. The loss is a difficult blow to Denver, which is 4-3 on the season.
The Nuggets have also been without starting point guard Jamal Murray for the past two games as he is in the NBA's concussion protocol.
Gordon, who signed a four-year, $133 million contract extension before the regular season, has averaged 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game this season.
Gordon has shot 55% on 3-pointers this season, which ranks in the top 10 among players with at least 20 attempts.
