The 2023 Rookie of the Year missed the last 34 games due to a torn oblique muscle.
Orlando Magic forward, Paolo Banchero made a return to the NBA court on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks. ESPN’s Shams Charania already reported that the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft is expected to return to action in one of Orlando’s back-to-back home games.
The 2023 Rookie of the Year missed the last 34 games due to a torn oblique muscle. Banchero was in the starting lineup for New Orleans and had a decent outing. The power forward led all the scorers in the Orlando Magic with 34 points but couldn’t prevail the consecutive home defeat. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 41 points to spoil Banchero’s return.
Tristan de Silva chipped in with 16 points and 10 rebounds for Orlando. Cole Anthony added 18 points and Anthony Black had 15. Magic had an 81-78 lead at the end of the third quarter but the Bucks rallied a 16-6 run in the fourth quarter to win the third straight game on the road.
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Paolo Banchero, who got a great welcome in front of the home crowd, was excellent on his NBA return after over two months. The former Duke student logged a laudable 34 points while shooting 11/21 from the field in 27 minutes of playing time. He also added seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.
Paolo Banchero’s first point came through a 24-foot step-back jump shot which guided Magic to a 13-6 lead in the first quarter. The 22-year-old was impressive in shooting and went 11-for-21. The Third-year forward averaged 29 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game this season before facing injury on Oct. 30.
Score: Bucks 109 Magic 106
| Minutes Played | 27 |
| Points | 34 |
| Rebounds | 7 |
| Assist | 3 |
| Steals | 3 |
| Blocks | 1 |
| Turnovers | 3 |
| FGs | 11-21 |
| 3Ps | 5-8 |
| FTs | 7-10 |
Image Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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