Magic forward Paolo Banchero wins weekly NBA award
For the past three weeks, Paolo Banchero has been nominated for Eastern Conference Player of the Week but he had yet to win the award.
That changed Monday.
After helping Orlando go 3-1 when he averaged 30.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists during 35.8 minutes, the Magic forward was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Week 23 of the regular season, the NBA announced.
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It marks just the second time that Banchero has won the league's top weekly honor during his career. He also won it last season in late-November.
Although he missed 34 games earlier this season because of a torn right abdominal muscle, Banchero has found his groove since the Magic returned from All-Star break.
Having scored 20-plus points in 16 consecutive games dating back to Feb. 25, he scored 30-plus points in five straight outings from Mar. 19-27, which is tied for the fourth-longest streak in franchise history.
In the past week alone, Banchero led (or tied) the Magic in scoring three times, in rebounding once and in assists three times. He scored 20-plus points in all four games and had 30-plus points three times.
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For the entire month of March, Banchero is fourth in the league in scoring on a nightly basis (30.3 points).
Banchero won the weekly award over a handful of other nominations including New York's OG Anunoby, Toronto's Scottie Barnes, Chicago's Coby White and Josh Giddey, Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, Miami's Tyler Herro and Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell.
In the West, Rockets guard Jalen Green won the award instead of nominees Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves of the Lakers, Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Clippers' James Harden and Houston's Alperen Sengun.
After hosting the Harden and Clippers at Kia Center on Monday, the Magic hit the road Tuesday night at San Antonio.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
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