Magic's Paolo Banchero has ankle sprain; out weeks, sources say - ESPN

Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero has sustained a low-grade high ankle sprain, the team announced Saturday, with sources telling ESPN's Shams Charania that the forward will miss multiple weeks.

This injury diagnosis typically carries a timetable of four to six weeks.

Banchero was injured in the first half of Friday night's 115-93 loss to the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves. He told The Orlando Sentinel after the game that he began experiencing discomfort in the first quarter.

He sat out the fourth quarter and finished with 14 points and six rebounds.

Last season, the Magic outscored opponents by 45 points in the 182 minutes that Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. were on the court together. They collectively shot 50.1% from the field and 36.4% from 3-point range while holding opponents to 46.2% overall shooting and 34.5% 3-point shooting.

The Magic are 40-26 over the past three regular seasons when the quartet of Banchero, Wagner, Suggs and Carter all play. They went 7-3 in 10 games without Banchero last season.

Over the past two seasons combined, Banchero has missed 46 games, Wagner 70 and Suggs 72, yet the Magic still reached the playoffs both years.

Banchero was off to a flying start this season, averaging team highs of 24.5 points and 7.5 assists per game, along with 6.5 rebounds and doing all that on 70% shooting.

For his career, the 2022 No. 1 draft pick and 2024 All-Star is averaging 22.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game for Orlando.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.