The Orlando Magic have been one of the NBA’s best teams this year. They have a 22-16 record and are fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Barring a collapse over the final three months of the regular season, Orlando should make the postseason for the second straight season. This would be the team’s first time going to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 2018-19 and 2019-20.
If the Magic hold on to win the Southeast Division, it’ll be their first back-to-back division championships since 2008-09 and 2009-10.
The strong start is even more impressive because 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year and 2024 NBA All-Star Paolo Banchero has missed all but five games this season with an oblique injury.
Good news is on the horizon for the Magic, though. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Banchero would return to the Magic this week. He’ll suit up either Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves or Friday night against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Magic star Paolo Banchero is expected to return to action in one of Orlando’s back-to-back home games Thursday versus Minnesota or Friday versus Milwaukee, sources tell ESPN. Banchero has been out since Oct. 30 due to a torn oblique after a monster start to the season. pic.twitter.com/f1qVhtJo4G
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 8, 2025
The star averaged 29 points per game across the five games he played. One of those games was a 50-point outburst in a 119-115 win over the Indiana Pacers on October 28.
Other members of Orlando’s young core have kept the team afloat without Banchero, who led the squad in points and assists per game in 2023-24. However, injuries have also affected those players.
Forward Franz Wagner has averaged a career-high 24.4 points per game this season. He has also been limited to just 25 games with an oblique injury. It’s unclear when Wagner will return. Third-leading scorer Jalen Suggs is averaging a career-best 16.9 points per game. He has missed the past week with a back injury.
Banchero’s return to Orlando comes at the perfect time. Once Wagner and Suggs get back to 100%, the Magic’s big three will be a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.
