The latest on player health and status ahead of Friday night's matchup between the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks.
Paolo Banchero is not a patient person. The Orlando Magic forward acknowledges that he’s been frustrated for much of the last 2 1/2 months while recovering from a torn oblique muscle, one that kept him out of the lineup for 34 games.
Banchero has missed the Magic's last 33 games, and he will reportedly miss a 34th on when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. On the official injury report, he is still listed as "questionable" for that game, as of Thursday afternoon.
Paolo Banchero will play on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Orlando Magic announced. Banchero has not seen game action since tearing his oblique in October. He missed 34 games due to the injury.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 41 points and 14 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks beat Orlando 109-106 in spite of 34 points by the Magic’s Paolo Banchero in his long-awaited return from an injury.
Banchero has been out since before Halloween with a torn oblique but is expected to return Thursday (Timberwolves) or Friday (Bucks).
Paolo Banchero’s return from injury can influence the Orlando Magic’s trade deadline plans, potentially impacting key roster decisions.
The Orlando Magic's well-documented injury woes should be eased in a big way on Friday when the team is expected to get All-Star Paolo Banchero back from a 34-game absence in time for a home meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Paolo Banchero, back in Orlando's lineup for the first time in almost 2½ months while recovering from a torn oblique muscle, gave his team a chance on Friday night, but the Magic fell to the Bucks 109-106.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Giannis Antetokounmpo had 41 points and 14 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks beat Orlando 109-106 on Friday night in spite of 34 points by the Magic's Paolo Banchero in his long-awaited return from an injury.
Paolo Banchero returned to the Orlando Magic lineup on Friday night after missing 34 games with a torn right oblique. The third-year forward led the Magic with 34 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He scored 12 of Orlando's final 14 points as a rally fell just short.