The Orlando Magic have fallen in two of their first three games, including an 115-93 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. In the defeat, PF Paolo Banchero suffered an ankle injury in the first half.
The Magic will play six of their next eight games on the road, starting with a tilt against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. How long could the Magic be without perhaps their best player?
Below, we’ll analyze the latest Paolo Banchero injury update, how long he could be out, and who might step up in his absence.
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Paolo Banchero Injury Update: How Long Will Banchero Be Out?
Banchero suffered a low-grade high ankle sprain, the Magic announced. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Banchero will miss multiple weeks, with a typical injury timeline being four to six.
After Friday's loss to Minnesota, Banchero admitted he began feeling ankle discomfort in the opening quarter.
Banchero sat out the fourth frame and finished with 14 points (6-of-11 shooting), 6 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Timberwolves.
With Banchero set to be out for an extended period, we’ll look at which Magic players could thrive in his absence.
Magic Players to Target While Paolo Banchero Is Out
The Magic got off to a strong start without Banchero in a 111-102 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday. F Franz Wagner led the squad with 23 points (9-of-23), 13 rebounds, and 9 assists, while G Desmond Bane added 22 points.
Banchero has been a force with the Magic since the franchise selected him with the top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft after one season at Duke. The versatile forward has averaged 22.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 4.8 APG in his NBA career, including a career-best 25.9 PPG in 2024-25.
He began the 2026-27 campaign strong with 35 points (10-of-12 shooting), 10 assists, and 7 rebounds in a 132-125 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the team’s season opener.
As if losing Banchero wasn’t bad enough, the Magic will also be without G Jalen Suggs for a while as well. According to Charania, Suggs has been diagnosed with a mild bone bruise in his right knee — he’ll be reevaluated in two weeks.
Without Banchero, Wagner could be even more productive, especially in the paint. The Michigan product has averaged 21.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 6.3 APG in three games this year. Additionally, Orlando sees a +4.1 net rating swing when Wagner has been on the floor without Banchero, per databallr.
Wagner figures to have increased opportunities to affect the game even more. He's scored 22+ points in two of his three games in 2026-27 and is a tremendous facilitator, too.
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Paolo Banchero is slated to miss several weeks after suffering an ankle sprain against the Timberwolves on Friday. As a result, Franz Wagner may see increased production with his co-star sitting out.
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