Through the first two games of the series, Banchero has scored 68 points on 26-of-52 shooting from the field. There’s no denying the fact that the third-year forward is getting what he wants as a scorer. However, due to the inability of some of his Magic teammates to hit shots, Banchero’s assist tally has not been as robust as it could be. In many instances, role players tend to perform better at home. The Magic, who are staring at a 0-3 deficit, certainly hope that will be the case in Game 3 on Friday.

Banchero was excellent in Game 1, scoring 19 points in the first half and another 17 after the halftime break. Unfortunately for the Magic, he was the only player who could consistently create opportunities offensively. A difficult matchup for most teams due to his combination of size, athleticism and skill set, this could be a big series for Banchero individually. However, the prevailing question is whether or not Orlando will be able to generate enough offense collectively to have a chance of beating the reigning champions. Game 2 is on Wednesday night.

Both the Magic’s star forwards have been ruled out again. Tristan da Silva and Caleb Houstan have a good shot at receiving starting nods against Atlanta.