Dalano Banton only plays in the fourth quater. But he also rarely misses in the fourth quarter. The Trail Blazers may have stumbled into to something magical. Okay, maybe they stumbled into one-dude on an absolute heater. But that one dude has been on a absolute heater the past two games.
Banton’s Fourth Quarter Magic
Banton’s performance against the New Orleans Pelicans was a spectacle. After sitting out the first three quarters, he entered the game and immediately made his presence felt. Despite an initial turnover, he quickly found his rhythm, scoring 20 points on 8 of 9 shooting. The Blazers outscored the Pelicans 39-18 in the fourth quarter, turning a three-point deficit into a laugher thanks largely to Banton’s efforts.
This comes on the heels of the game on Saturday where he 12 points in the fourth quarter and keyed a rally from down 21 against Phoenix. His go-ahead three-pointer with under a minute left just rimmed out, narrowly missing a miraculous two game run in which didn’t see a single minute in the opening three-quarters.
Over the last two games, Banton has scored 32 points in just under 24 minutes, all in the fourth quarter. His efficiency is off the charts, shooting 13 of 16 from the floor. It’s a role that suits him perfectly—coming in as a scorer, not a distributor, and just going for it. The Blazers have been looking for someone who can create their own shot, and Banton has stunningly been the perfect solution.
In all seriousness, Banton’s success comes from being used in the right role. He’s not a traditional point guard, but when given the freedom to attack and score, he thrives. Playing alongside other guards like Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons allows him to focus on what he does best—getting buckets.
While it’s unlikely that this fourth-quarter-only trend will continue indefinitely, it’s been a thrilling ride so far. His performances have been a highlight, and it’s clear that when he’s on the court, anything can happen. As long as that anything is required after the first three quarters have been completed.
For more insights and a deeper dive into Dalano Banton’s impact, tune into the Locked On Blazers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Blazers Podcast:
- Toumani Camara’s growth and potential to expand his game
- Anfernee Simons’ shooting struggles and improvements
- A lot of Dalano Banton talk
For all these stories and more, make Locked On Blazers your go-to source for everything Trail Blazers.
