Banchero to Miss Eighth Straight Game; Magic Thrive During Hot Stretch
banchero-out-eighth-game-magic-thrive-hot-stretch
Orlando forward Paolo Banchero will sit out for the eighth consecutive contest because of a left groin strain and will not play Friday, Nov. 28, when the Magic visit the Detroit Pistons, according to the team. His next opportunity to return is Monday, Dec. 1, against the Chicago Bulls.
Friday’s meeting in Detroit carries added weight in the NBA Cup group stage. The winner secures a berth in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals alongside Toronto, while Orlando could still claim the East wild-card spot with a loss, provided the margin is not lopsided.
After a 1-4 start, the Magic have gone 10-4 over the past four weeks. During that 14-game span they rank seventh in defensive rating (110.7) and fifth in offensive rating (121.0). “We’ve reestablished our defensive identity, and the offense is clicking right now,” center Wendell Carter Jr. said.
Teammates insist the surge is unrelated to Banchero’s absence. “He’s a very smart basketball player,” guard Jalen Suggs said. “He’ll come back into the fold and jell well with us because that’s our brother. We’re better when he’s on the court.”
Suggs was ejected late in the first half of Tuesday’s 41-point win in Philadelphia after shoving Andre Drummond during a brief altercation that began with Drummond and Carter. “I’ll stick up for my brother every time,” Suggs said postgame, adding that he would react the same way again despite the ejection and an expected fine.
One catalyst for Orlando’s recent form is Desmond Bane. The offseason acquisition averaged 14.2 points on .431/.293/.857 shooting in his first 10 games but has lifted those numbers to 20.8 points on .435/.365/.976 over his past nine. Bane pointed to his game-winning three-pointer against Portland—Orlando’s 11th game—as a turning point. “After making that shot, I just felt the love from everybody,” he said. “Orlando’s starting to feel like home.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
