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Jason Beede: FINAL: #Magic 130, Raptors 120 Orlando looked dead in the water trailing by 14 points before it outscored Toronto 44-21 in the fourth quarter. Desmond Bane (32 points), Anthony Black (25), Wendell Carter Jr. (23) and Paolo Banchero (20) combine for 100 on ESPN.
Sources across the league strongly believe that Orlando, which is about $5 million into the luxury tax, will make a move to get under. Moving on from guard Tyus Jones' expiring $7 million deal would solve that, but not the massive money crunch coming next season, when Banchero's extension kicks in. (The Magic are already projected to be well into the luxury tax in 2026-27 with just 10 players on the roster.) And if Orlando doesn't move on from Jonathan Isaac's non-guaranteed deal, it will be a second apron team.
There’s been some national noise about your relationship with Jamahl [Mosley, head coach]. You guys talked about frustration during the season and this losing streak. What’s your relationship like with him, and how has he helped you guys? Paolo Banchero: Yeah, I mean, he helps us a lot. He’s helped me a lot. We have a lot of open communication. Whatever those reports are, I wouldn’t say those are true in my opinion. One thing I know about myself, and about him — we’re both fierce competitors. So when you’re losing a lot of games and stuff’s not going well, people are upset. But me and him haven’t had any blowups or arguments or gone back and forth. We’re pretty aligned when we talk to each other, trying to figure stuff out. Now, that’s not saying when we lose four or five in a row, I’m not pissed off or he’s not pissed off. But in terms of our relationship, I think it’s been good since I got here. Obviously, as a team, we need to keep improving — I’ve been vocal about that, and he understands that. We all understand that. So, I don’t think anything I’ve said or he’s said isn’t already known within the team and the organization. Those reports — I don’t know where that’s coming from. I don’t know if you guys are putting that out — you know what I’m saying? So if it’s not you guys, who could that be coming from? It is what it is. But I think winning cures all. The more we win, the quieter those reports will be.
Jason Beede: Pre-game in Miami I asked #Magic coach Jamahl Mosley about Tim MacMahon’s comments on an ESPN podcast that he and Paolo Banchero “might not be seeing eye-to-eye.” “Yeah, I don’t really have reactions to that,” Mosley said. “I think that’s outside opinion…”
Dan Savage: Since the start of last season, the trio of Paolo, Franz and Suggs have played in only 17 of the @OrlandoMagic ’s 126 regular season games together - just 13.5% of the time. In the 136 mins they’ve been on the court together this season, Orlando is shooting 52.2% FG & 38.3% 3PTs.
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Oh No He Didn't: Paolo on his relationship with the Italian fans: "If you ask me I would say they don't like me too much. I think you have to ask some fans how they feel but it is what it is at this point"
Legion Hoops: PAOLO BANCHERO GAME WINNER
PAOLO BANCHERO GAME WINNERpic.twitter.com/0w15zz325P
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 8, 2026
NBA Communications: Other nominees… West: Devin Booker (PHX), Stephen Curry (GSW), Kevin Durant (HOU), Anthony Edwards (MIN), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) and Kawhi Leonard (LAC) East: Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL), Paolo Banchero and Anthony Black (ORL), Jaylen Brown (BOS), Cade Cunningham (DET),
Dan Savage: Final: Magic 135, Pacers 127 Desmond Bane had 31 points, Paolo Banchero notched 28 points & 12 rebounds and Anthony Black tallied 27 points & 10 assists. @OrlandoMagic are 13-3 this season when they score at least 120 points. It's Orlando's first win this season on a Sunday.
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Jason Beede: Before today’s game at Kia Center, #Magic forward Paolo Banchero met with Blake Bonta, a 12-year-old from Iowa who’s been battling brain cancer since January 2023. Bonta has helped raised over $100,000 for pediatric brain cancer research while going through treatments.
Jason Beede: FINAL: #Magic 112, Pacers 110 Orlando survives at Indiana behind Paolo Banchero’s 29 points and his go-ahead basket. As ugly as they come.
The most obvious explanation is a familiar one: an injury. Last season, injuries forced him to miss 36 games, with the most significant injury, a torn oblique muscle, sapping his conditioning and limiting his explosiveness for an extended stretch after he returned. This season, a groin strain kept him out 10 games, and although he returned on Dec. 5, he is still working back into a rhythm. “It was definitely a setback,” Paolo Banchero told The Athletic. “Nothing major, but definitely a minor setback. Just frustrating. But I was able to just focus on the rehab process and then get back on the court (as) quick as possible. I knew coming back that, with it being a groin injury, it would take some time. But I’ve been feeling better, and I’m looking forward to just kind of taking off and really finding my feet and starting to play some really good basketball.”
Banchero has heard the chatter that the Magic play more smoothly and more effectively when he and Wagner play separately instead of together. When The Athletic asked him about that perception, Banchero provided a straightforward, unvarnished response. “I think that’s bull—,” Banchero answered. “I’m not going to lie. People are going to say whatever they want to say about me, Franz and whoever. But we know that we’re at our strongest when both of us are out there on the floor.
