Duke’s no.1 pick is aghast after Cooper Flagg and Blue Devils crumble in Final Four

Paolo Banchero couldn't hide his disappointment as Cooper Flagg and Duke were stunned in the Final Four on Saturday. The former No. 1 draft pick from Duke and now Orlando Magic superstar minced no words as he shared his feelings on X (formerly Twitter) following the 70-67 loss to the Houston Cougars.

Banchero wrote:

"dawg that hurts 💔"

Flagg ended his evening with 27 points, four rebounds, and seven assists. The F/G kept his team in the game before questionable officiating and a furious rally from Houston saw the side roar back to stun Duke. As for Banchero, the disappointment was clear.

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"Every game matters": Paolo Banchero on the Magic's playoff aspirations

Earlier, Paolo Banchero focused on the Magic's season as they look to punch a playoff ticket. Speaking to Andscape's Marc J. Spears, the forward minced no words when asked about the team's playoff chances.

“It’s really getting close to the end. The position we’re in, every game matters to put ourselves in the best position possible for the postseason. So, some teams that are at the top or the bottom [of the standings] are resting guys. But we’re the opposite. We’re trying to get every game, doing whatever we can right now. I would say the pressure is high. A couple losses, you can be in the 10 [seed]. A couple wins, you can be in seven, maybe six. So, it’s a lot of pressure, but honestly it’s the fun part of the season."

The Magic are seventh in the East with a 38-40 record. With four games left in the regular season, they will need to push for wins and hope that their play-in position will see them push through to the playoffs. Paolo Banchero's solid form will be crucial Orlando look to flip the switch for their upcoming games.