'We Don't Fear Them,' Paolo Banchero Talks Magic's 2-1 Series Lead vs. Pistons After Game 3 Win

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero wasn't intimidated by the Detroit Pistons after his team took a 2-1 series lead following a 113-105 win in Game 3 of their first-round matchup on Saturday.

"We've got a lot of respect for those guys over there," Banchero said in an interview after the game. "But we know how we stack up, we know what we've got in this locker room and so we don't fear them. We've got a lot of respect, we're just gonna have to bring it on Monday."

The Magic didn't enter the playoffs with much momentum, falling to a shorthanded Boston Celtics squad in the final game of the regular season before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in their first play-in tournament game.

Still, Orlando defeated the Charlotte Hornets in its second play-in tournament matchup and advanced to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Magic secured a 112-101 upset victory over the No. 1 seed Pistons in Game 1 before losing by the final score of 98-83 in Game 2.

Orlando went on to take another series lead on Saturday, with Banchero serving as a key contributor.

He finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks in Game 3. While Banchero only shot 6-of-17 from the field, he went 2-of-5 from behind the arc.

That included a pull-up triple that bounced off the back of the rim and dropped in to help seal the win for Orlando late in the fourth quarter.

If the Magic can advance to the second round, they'd be the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed since 2023.

Game 4 between Detroit and Orlando is on Monday at 8 p.m. ET.