Written by Oliver Salt for Dailymail.com
Updated at 02:07 on November 5, 2023, 02:14 on November 5, 2023
- Banchero completes the crossover, then slides past LeBron for a layup
- It helps Magic avenge Game 3 loss to Lakers in Los Angeles
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero left LeBron James for dead as the Los Angeles Lakers suffered their third loss of the new season on Saturday night.
The Lakers lost 120-101 to the Magic as German star Franz Wagner scored 26 points for the hosts in Florida.
It was a night to forget for NBA icon LeBron, who was knocked down by Banchero early in the third quarter at Amway Center.
The 20-year-old completed a nifty crossover before sliding past LeBron for a layup that extended the Magic’s lead on the night.
Fans were in awe of Banchero, who scored 25 points in the game and easily outscored the Lakers legend, with one writing on the X: “Banchero is the real deal.”
Another simply said: “cooked.”
A third asked: “Is that what Paul did to (the goat)?”
Someone joked: “Come on, this guy is 38 years old… go easy on him”.
Despite Banchero going viral, LeBron still scored 24 points against the Florida Lakers.
Anthony Davis was the team’s leading scorer on the night with 28 points, a return that puts him atop the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Davis, who has 15,971 career points, ranks 119th on the all-time list and is now ahead of Kiki Vandeweghe (15,980 points) and Amar’e Stoudemire (15,994 points). 117 bits.
Rookie Anthony Blake made his first start for the Magic. Goga Bitadze started at center for Orlando and finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.
Five days later, the Lakers defeated the Magic 106-103 in Los Angeles. The victory broke Orlando’s seven-game losing streak to the Lakers.
Both teams have battled injuries. Orlando was without guards Markelle Fultz (knee) and Gary Harris (groin) and center Wendell Carter Jr. (finger).