The loss? Orlando’s fourth straight. The frustration? Through the roof. Paolo Banchero did everything he could. The third-year Magic star dropped 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out eight assists. But all of that didn’t matter in the end.
Ja’Kobe Walter of the Toronto Raptors had the last laugh though, hitting a cold-blooded 3-pointer from the top of the key with just 0.5 seconds left in the game. It all but secured the 114-113 victory for the Toronto.
The Raptors swept the Magic in back-to-back games, both decided by a combined three points.
NBA Fans Explode Saying Paolo Banchero Needs Some Help
The Magic’s season is slipping away, and fans are losing it. After watching Banchero go nuclear just to see his team fall short again, X went into full meltdown mode.
“GET HIM SOME HELP,” a fan cried out loud on Hoop Central’s post.
GET HIM SOME HELP
— Zackary Wilson (@ZackaryWilson0) March 5, 2025
Magic fans flooded social media, venting about the team’s struggles and their inability to surround Banchero with the right pieces.
Another fan stated, “went from being Finals contenders talks to being 29-34… sad era for Orlando.”
Banchero is a superstar in the making. He scored 22 points in the fourth quarter alone, trying to drag Orlando across the finish line. He even knocked down two clutch free throws with under five seconds left, giving the Magic what should’ve been the game-sealing lead.
But in classic Magic fashion, they found a way to lose.
Meanwhile, Franz Wagner did his part, adding 28 points, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Tristan da Silva combined for eight 3s. But Orlando’s depth was stretched thin with Jalen Suggs out with knee surgery and Cole Anthony sidelined.
The Magic were playing catch-up the rest of the night when the Raptors went on a 20-4 run in the third quarter.
Paolo Banchero’s Mom Was the First One to Call it
It’s not just fans who are fed up—Paolo Banchero’s own mom called out Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley.
Rhonda Smith-Banchero—who knows a thing or two about basketball as a former pro player—took to X on March 2 to vent her frustrations with Mosley’s rotations and late-game decisions.
“If you don’t have a plan, they don’t know what to execute. No anticipation, spotty energy, no synergy. Just randomness all over.”
She didn’t hold back, questioning why Banchero isn’t being put in better positions to win. Fans quickly rallied behind her, agreeing that Orlando’s coaching staff isn’t maximizing their young superstar.
She added, “If roles are undefined, everyone thinks they can play the lead character.”
The Magic are now 29-34, and while they’re still in the Play-In conversation, nights like this raise serious concerns about whether this team is actually building something or just wasting Banchero’s brilliance.
The Magic wrap up their homestand against the Bulls on March 6, but let’s be honest—if something doesn’t change fast, this season could spiral out of control.
Banchero is doing everything he can. The real question is—will the Magic step up before it’s too late?
