Player News

• Magic's Paolo Banchero: Participates in drills Friday

  6D ago • By RotoWire

  Coach Jamahl Mosley said Friday that Banchero (oblique) did some conditioning and ball handling drills during Friday's practice, Philip Rossman-Reich of OrlandoMagicDaily.com reports. While Banchero's activity in practice is a positive sign of his progression through a torn right oblique, he'll likely remain sidelined for an extended period as he has yet to move on to contact drills. The star forward hasn't played since sustaining the injury Oct. 30, and a timeline for his return to game action is unclear. With Banchero and Franz Wagner (oblique) sidelined, Moritz Wagner, Jett Howard and Tristan da Silva should continue seeing an uptick in playing time.

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• Magic's Paolo Banchero: Tears oblique, out multiple weeks

  11/01/2024 • By RotoWire

  Banchero was diagnosed Thursday with a torn right oblique and will be re-evaluated in 4-to-6 weeks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. Banchero had been listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Cleveland after he apparently suffered the abdominal injury in Wednesday's loss to the Bulls, but the star forward will now be headed for an indefinite absence after follow-up tests revealed a more serious injury than anticipated. Charania notes that a firmer timetable for Banchero's return will depend on how he responds to treatment, but fantasy managers can prepare for him to miss at least a month, and likely longer. The Magic don't have an obvious candidate to serve as a 1-for-1 replacement for Banchero, but his absence could open up more minutes for Jett Howard, Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac, Gary Harris and Cole Anthony. Starters Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter could also notice spikes in usage while Banchero is out of the lineup.

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• Magic's Paolo Banchero: Iffy against Cleveland

  10/31/2024 • By RotoWire

  Banchero is listed as questionable for Friday's game versus the Cavaliers due to a right abdominal strain, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. Banchero seems to have suffered an abdominal strain against Chicago and is in danger of missing his first game of the season Friday. If the star forward is ultimately ruled out, Jonathan Isaac and Jett Howard are candidates to receive increased playing time.

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• Magic's Paolo Banchero: Pours in 31 in Chicago

  10/31/2024 • By RotoWire

  Banchero logged 31 points (12-22 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 5-7 FT), seven rebounds and four assists over 37 minutes during Wednesday's 102-99 loss to the Bulls. One game after becoming the first player in the NBA this season to put together a 50-point performance, Banchero was dominant again as he led all scorers on the night. The third-year forward could be ready to rise to superstardom after being the first overall pick in the 2022 Draft, topping 30 points in three of five contests to begin the campaign while averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 boards, 5.6 assists and 2.2 threes.

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• Magic's Paolo Banchero: Career-high 50 points vs. Indiana

  10/29/2024 • By RotoWire

  Banchero registered 50 points (16-26 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 15-22 FT), 13 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and one steal over 40 minutes during Monday's 119-115 victory over the Pacers. Banchero dominated in the first half of Monday's contest, finishing with a 37/7/6 line after 24 minutes. His production slowed down a bit in the third frame, but he paced the Magic in the fourth quarter and earned his 50th point on a free-throw attempt with less than a minute to play. Banchero had a couple of mediocre stat lines after a 33-point outing in the regular-season opener against the Heat on Oct. 23, but the 21-year-old showcased Monday why he was taken No. 1 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. Banchero and the Magic will hit the road to take on the Bulls on Wednesday.

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