Magic's Banchero Out Weeks With Ankle Sprain — SkimNews
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- Paolo Banchero sustained a low-grade high ankle sprain and will miss multiple weeks, with the injury occurring in the third quarter of the Magic's 115-93 loss to the Timberwolves.
- Orlando Magic face a critical stretch without Banchero, whose absence sidelines a central piece of a core four that includes Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr.
- Banchero, Wagner, Suggs, and Carter have played together in 40 games over the last three seasons, winning 60.6% of those matchups and forming the team's most effective lineup.
- The Magic outscored opponents by 45 points in 182 minutes last season when Banchero, Wagner, Suggs, Carter and Desmond Bane shared the court, showcasing elite two-way performance.
- Banchero has missed 46 games over the last two seasons, while Wagner and Suggs have each missed over 70, yet the team still reached the playoffs in both campaigns.
Why it matters: The Magic’s 60.6% win rate with Banchero, Wagner, Suggs and Carter on the floor makes their upcoming games without him a high-stakes test of depth and continuity, especially given their history of navigating injury-laden seasons to reach the playoffs.
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