Paolo Banchero says he was not the one who started his heated exchange with Jalen Johnson at the end of the Orlando Magic’s season opener. He just was not about to walk away from it. The Magic forward and the Atlanta Hawks star had to be separated by teammates and staffers as the final buzzer sounded on Atlanta’s 132-125 win on Wednesday night at Kia Center.
After the game, Banchero was asked about the incident by Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel, and he made it clear who he felt started it.
“Yeah, he wanted to wait ‘til the clock hit zero to say something to me,” Banchero said. “So, I just wanted to hear what he said. But it is what it is. Game one.”
I asked #Magic forward Paolo Banchero about this postgame interaction with Jalen Johnson:
“Yeah, he wanted to wait ‘til the clock hit zero to say something to me,” Banchero said. “So, I just wanted to hear what he said. But it is what it is. Game one.”
Video: https://t.co/oRb1DjVdld pic.twitter.com/x80taEcqdI
— Jason Beede (@therealBeede) October 22, 2026
Banchero did not reveal what Johnson said, and the exact trigger for the confrontation remains unclear. Larry Brown Sports pointed to a battle for a rebound in the closing moments as a possible spark.
Either way, Banchero sounded ready to move on. His “game one” remark served as a reminder that there is a long season ahead, with plenty more meetings to come between the two Southeast Division rivals. Both players are former Duke standouts, which adds another layer to the matchup.
The frustration was understandable given how the night played out. Banchero was spectacular, finishing with 35 points on 10-of-12 shooting, seven rebounds and 10 assists. Johnson countered with 20 points and 14 rebounds for Atlanta.
Orlando battled back from a 10-point halftime deficit and took a 100-99 lead into the fourth quarter. But a key replay review went Atlanta’s way with 4:27 left, when an offensive foul that would have been Johnson’s sixth was overturned after the Hawks challenged it.
Article Continues BelowNickeil Alexander-Walker then took over down the stretch, hitting two three-pointers in the final two minutes on his way to 31 points. Dyson Daniels added 20 points and five steals, while CJ McCollum chipped in 19.
Wendell Carter Jr. and Franz Wagner each scored 22 for the Magic, and Desmond Bane added 18. The loss spoiled the debut of first-year head coach Sean Sweeney and extended Atlanta’s winning streak in the series to six games.
Banchero and the Magic will look to bounce back when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.