Orlando Magic fans are holding their breath after star forward Paolo Banchero left Friday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with an ankle issue, a familiar and unwelcome sight for a team plagued by bad injury luck. The team quickly declared him doubtful to return with a sore right ankle, sending a wave of concern through the fanbase.
The Awkward Landing That Sparked Panic
The scare went down early in the third quarter. Banchero was battling for a rebound with his own teammate, Magic guard Jalen Suggs, when he landed awkwardly. He immediately grabbed his ankle as he fell to the floor, a sight that makes any fan cringe. He was subbed out right away and headed to the locker room. Before the injury, Banchero had put up 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal, showing he was in rhythm.
A Return to Action That Felt Like a Warning
In a moment of what seemed like positive news, Banchero did eventually return to the bench and then even returned to the court. But the relief was short-lived. He was subbed out again at the start of the fourth quarter, and the team was already getting absolutely blown out, down by 26 points at the time. This late-game exit might have been purely precautionary, given the lopsided score, but it still left a knot in the stomachs of Magic faithful. This team has seen its best players struggle with injuries for years. Banchero himself was limited to only 46 games during the 2024-25 season because of an oblique injury. His teammate, Franz Wagner, battled a similar oblique issue that same year, playing only 60 games, and then played just 34 games last season.
The Magic ultimately lost to the Timberwolves 115-93. While the scoreboard stings, the real worry tonight is all about Banchero’s right ankle. With a history of key players missing significant time, Orlando is hoping this latest scare is nothing more than that: just a scare.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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