Magic news: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner’s awesome takes on historic playoff feat with Jalen Suggs

The Cavaliers opened the third quarter of Game 6 on a 13-2 run, outscoring the Magic 29-20 to grab an eight-point lead early on. However, the Magic responded fiercely in the fourth quarter, holding Cleveland to just 18 points, all coming from Mitchell.

Banchero led the Magic with 27 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, scoring 10 crucial points during the fourth-quarter surge. He shared his enthusiasm for the deciding Game 7:

“It’s awesome. Going down 2-0 early, we kinda figured that if we wanted to win, it was probably going to have to be in Game 7. So excited, and it’s just a do-or-die situation. We’re going to have to put together another special effort.”

Paolo Banchero also reflected on the team’s shared achievement:

“We got a special group. We’re real young, we came in together, and we just wanna put on for the city [of Orlando], for this team. We know how hard we work, and we’re just proud.”

Franz Wagner’s Game 6 bounce-back performance keeps the Magic alive

Franz Wagner rebounded from his underwhelming Game 5 performance, where he managed only 14 points and six assists while shooting just 27.2% from the field. In Game 6, he scored 26 points, grabbed five rebounds, and converted all 11 of his free throws. He brought intensity from the start, netting 18 points in the first half. Reflecting on their trio’s historic feat, Wagner said:

“It’s always cool when you’re mentioned in the same sentence as guys like that. The whole group, whole team, us three work extremely hard. We like each other, we like to play with each other.”

Wagner also commended the team’s ability to handle the pressure in a must-win Game 6 scenario:

“I thought it was great. Really high urgency obviously, good focus all game, but it’s just another basketball game, so that’s how you’ve got to approach it. The same things apply as in any other game, and we just got to lock in on the right things. Even though we didn’t have a great third [quarter], I thought we stuck with it all game, and I think that’s what made the difference in the game.”

Jalen Suggs finds his rhythm, eager for decisive Game 7  

Jalen Suggs also improved after his Game 5 performance, where he contributed 13 points and five rebounds. In Game 6, he delivered 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists, connecting on six of the Magic’s 11 three-pointers. Suggs expressed his excitement for Game 7:

“These are moments we’re going to continue to cherish forever… I can’t wait to go out there and play in Cleveland. Hostile environment, we haven’t won one there yet, all odds are stacked against us. None of us would want it any other way.”

Suggs also noted the team’s mentality heading into Game 7:

“It was back and forth all night. We knew that was a game we had to go take. We didn’t want to end it here, and I think we all found a lot of comfort in that. Understanding how much pressure is on this game. But it was just another game for all of us. Another opportunity to play basketball together, continue to have fun, smile, and hoop in this city.”

The winner of Game 7 will face the Boston Celtics, the best team in the league, in the next round of the NBA Playoffs. Game 7 tips off at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday in Cleveland.