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.

Paolo Banchero has made his return to the Orlando Magic lineup Friday night after a 34-game absence due to a torn oblique muscle.

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.

Orlando Magic forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner maintained their top-10 standing in the second returns of NBA All-Star fan voting Thurs.

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.

Former Duke Blue Devils stars have made plays across the NBA all season long, nothing unusual. However, former No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero has been missing for quite a while as he recovers from a torn oblique.

The night Paolo Banchero suffered a torn right abdominal muscle, the Magic were fourth in the East. It was still early in the season and Jamahl Mosley‘s squad had played just five games. But 72 days and 35 games later?

When asked after practice Wednesday whether or not it would be a challenge to re-integrate All-Star forward Paolo Banchero into the Magic starting lineup, veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope flipped the perspective of the question.