The Orlando Magic face the Boston Celtics as heavy underdogs in their first-round playoff series, relying on Paolo Banchero to elevate his game for any chance at an upset. Banchero, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, averaged 25.9 points and is crucial for the Magic to close their scoring gap with the Celtics, who outpaced them significantly in points per game. While the Magic hold a strong defensive record, Banchero must excel offensively and defensively to extend the series, having previously limited Jayson Tatum’s scoring in a key matchup this season.
