Magic’s Paolo Banchero out indefinitely with indirect damage

The Orlando Magic said Thursday that forward Paolo Banchero is out indefinitely after suffering a torn right oblique.

The 21-year-old star will be evaluated again in four to six weeks. Banchero was injured in the fourth quarter of Orlando’s 102-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

Banchero leads the Magic in scoring (29 points per game) and assists (5.6) after a stellar first five games of the season.

In the season opener, a 116-97 win over the Miami Heat, he tallied 33 points and 11 rebounds and joined former franchise stars Shaquille O’Neal and Tracy McGrady as the only Orlando players to reach 30 points and 10 rebounds in an opener.

Banchero then produced a career-high 50 points Monday in a 119-115 win against the Indiana Pacers. He also grabbed 13 rebounds and added nine assists, making him the second-youngest player in NBA history to tally 50 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a game (behind LeBron James in 2005).

Banchero added 31 points Wednesday to become the third player (O’Neal and McGrady) to average 40 points over a two-game span in franchise history.

Banchero, who was named to the All-Star team last season, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by Orlando. He has averaged 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 157 career games.

–Field Level Media