BOSTON — Before the Orlando Magic left Florida to begin their first-round playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics, they felt they had learned valuable lessons last spring about the mental side of an NBA postseason series.

In his first two playoff games against Boston, Banchero has been the spearhead of everything Orlando has tried to do offensively.

This must seem like a cruel joke to Paolo Banchero. In his last two playoff games, he’s scored 38 and 36 — and lost.