Ingles’ 3-pointer at end doesn’t succeed
Forward Banchero leads Magic with 27
Entering Friday’s 107-106 loss at Memphis, the Magic’s winning percentage (59.1%) in “clutch” scenarios had sat ninth leaguewide and fourth in the East.
The NBA defines clutch time as any game time when there are five or fewer minutes remaining in the game and the scoring margin is within 5 points.
The Magic’s statistics in that category would have improved if forward Joe Ingles’ 3-point attempt before the buzzer had not flown out of the rim.
Forward Paolo Banchero led the Magic (23-22) with 27 points while center Wendell Carter Jr. added 20 points and 9 assists. Franz Wagner finished with 18 points for Orlando, which has lost seven of nine.
Magic guard Jalen Suggs suffered a bruised left knee in the first quarter and did not return.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had 30 points and 8 rebounds for the Grizzlies (18-27) while reserve Ziaire Williams added 17 points and Luke Kennard finished with 15 points — all on 3-pointers
— plus six assists as the Grizzlies won their third straight.
The Grizzlies built the first double-digit lead of the game in the third quarter and stretched it to 11 early in the fourth, but the Magic rallied behind Banchero, who had 12 points in the final period. His 3-pointer with 2:54 left cut the Memphis lead to 105-103, and Wagner’s two free throws with 28.7 seconds left brought the Magic within 107-106.
The Orlando defense caused a shot-clock violation with 4.7 seconds left, giving the Magic the final possession. The ball came in to Banchero, who passed to Ingles for a 3-point attempt from the left wing. It bounced out.
Memphis improved to 5-15 at home; the Grizzlies are 13-12 in
away games.
The teams exchanged leads in the first half while the Magic dealt with foul trouble for Banchero, who picked up three in the first quarter, and the injury to Suggs.
There were 12 lead changes and and 10 ties before halftime. An 18-7 push by Memphis to close the half gave the Grizzlies a 68-59 lead, the largest for either team at that point.
Through their first 44 games of the season, the Magic had faced 22 instances of clutch time and went 13-9 in those contests.
Last year, Orlando played 44 total games that included clutch minutes and the team went 19-25, or won just 43.2% of the time — a mark that was tied for 22nd in the NBA.
Of course, the goal would be to ultimately avoid clutch games and instead cruise to victory. That’s simply not realistic on a nightly basis for a young rising team such as the Magic.
It’s not surprising that when Orlando finds itself in those situations, it’s leaned heavily on Banchero.
Entering Friday’s game, the reigning Rookie of the Year had scored 75 total clutch points this season. It’s a mark that ranks eighth in the league and is only a point behind Phoenix’s Kevin Durant’s clutch total.
Banchero is shooting 43.6% in clutch scenarios and his 55 attempts are fourth-most in the league. In addition, he’s shot 35.3% (6 of 17) from 3-point range. The Magic forward’s 3-point accuracy in clutch moments is higher than four other players in the top 8 in total clutch points — Durant (33.3%), Atlanta’s Trae Young (21.7%), Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges (30.0%) and Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard (34.6%).
If there’s one area where Banchero is lacking in clutch situations, it’s his field-goal shooting. He’s shot 75.0% (21 of 28) in clutch time, which is worst among the top 8 in clutch total points. The next closest is Bridges at 75.8% (25 of 33) but everyone else shoots 81% or better from the charity stripe. Banchero is the youngest player listed in the top 8 in clutch total points at age 21.