ORLANDO, Fla. — Paolo Banchero had the best night of his career on Monday night.

Banchero tied the Orlando Magic record for points in a half, scoring 37 in the first two quarters against the Indiana Pacers. He finished with a career-high 50 points — tying the fifth-highest scoring effort in Magic history. Orlando won 119-115.

“Man, I'm tired. I'm tired as hell,” Banchero said after the first 50-point effort in the NBA this season. “But it was a hell of a game.”

Banchero, the NBA Rookie of the Year two seasons ago and an All-Star last year, was 13 of 17 from the field in the half and finished 16 of 26 from the floor. He also had 13 rebounds and nine assists.

“It was just being in the zone,” Banchero said. “Felt like I was in an open gym, back at home, just working on my game. Every shot felt like it was going in, and it's a good feeling when you've got a day like that. Not every game is going to be like that, but I'm glad today was.”

The other 50-point games in Magic history: Tracy McGrady had 62 against Washington on March 10, 2004; Shaquille O’Neal had 53 against Minnesota on April 20, 1994; McGrady had 52 against Chicago on Feb. 21, 2003; McGrady had 51 against Denver on Nov. 14, 2003; Nick Anderson had 50 against New Jersey on April 23, 1993; and McGrady had 50 again against Washington on March 8, 2002.

The 37 points in the half tied the mark set by McGrady, also in the first half, for Orlando against Washington in the game in which he finished with 62.

“That first half was a magical first half, for sure,” Banchero said.

Banchero's career-high entering Monday was 43 points, set Jan. 3 against the Sacramento Kings. There were four first-half performances of 37 or more points last season — two by the Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker, one by Karl-Anthony Towns (then of Minnesota, now of New York) and one by the Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic.

Banchero tied a franchise record with 37 points in the first half, matching Tracy McGrady on March 9, 2003.

Jalen Suggs had 25 points and seven assists for Orlando, and reserve Mo Wagner finished with 14 points.

One of those assists came off a play that started with Banchero, who passed to Suggs. The Magic guard tossed the ball to guard Anthony Black, who sank a 3-pointer to put the Magic up for good, 118-115, with 33.1 seconds to play.

Pascal Siakam had 26 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers, who wiped out a 13-point Magic lead in the third quarter but went cold in the final minutes. Tyrese Haliburton had 19 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.

Takeaways

Pacers: Went 20 for 30 at the free-throw line while falling to 1-3 on the season.

Magic: Banchero helped the Magic hold on after losing leading scorer Franz Wagner (illness) in the third quarter.

Key moment

The game was slipping away from the Magic after Indiana’s 22-3 run in the third quarter. But Banchero came up with a backcourt steal and fed Mo Wagner for a dunk, cutting the Pacers’ lead to one and bringing the crowd back into the game.

Key stat

The Pacers shot 22 free throws in the third quarter and none in the fourth.

Up next

The Pacers host Boston on Wednesday night, while the Magic open a five-game trip at Chicago.