Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero made his return from a 34-game absence lived up to the billing, but the Magic fell in a thriller 109-106.

Orlando Magic star forward Paolo Banchero is expected to be available for Friday's home game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The All-Star

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.

Having Banchero back in the mix gives the Magic offense a whole new set of weapons. And if he’s able to return to the form he evidenced in the early stages of the 2024-25 campaign, then he should be able to keep the Magic as one of the best teams in the East as the regular season rapidly approaches its mid-point.

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

Banchero was off to an outstanding start in his first five games, which included a 50-point effort on Oct. 28 in a 119–115 win over the Indiana Pacers. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Duke, he won Rookie of the Year honors in 2022-23 and earned an All-Star nod last season.

The Milwaukee Bucks take on the Orlando Magic on Friday night in Paolo Banchero's first game back. Injury report on Giannis Antetokounmpo and more.

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.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Joe combined for 70 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back to winning ways with a 126-101 drubbing of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

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. Damian Lillard added 29 points for the Bucks, including a couple of free throws with 9.3 seconds left for the game’s final points.

NEW YORK (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points in 29 minutes, and the Oklahoma City Thunder emphatically bounced back to rout the New York Knicks 126-101 on Friday night in the first game since their 15-game winning streak was snapped.