Orlando visits the Knicks at 0-2 after Paolo Banchero was ruled out Saturday with a high ankle sprain. ESPN reported that he is out multiple weeks, and RealGM put the range at 4-6 weeks.
The biggest loss is the one who scored most.
Banchero hurt his right ankle in the first quarter against Minnesota. Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel confirmed a low-grade high ankle sprain. He averaged 22.2 points last season, and the projected return date is Nov. 22. Orlando scored 93 in that game, before the injury cost it its top scorer for good.
The Magic are short on bodies and on shooting.
Penda and Nelson are out until Nov. 18. Isaac is out until Oct. 28, and Black is listed day-to-day, with Beede reporting him as questionable. That leaves Wagner, Bane, Suggs, Carter Jr. and da Silva to carry the load. Suggs has shot 37.2% true shooting over his last five games, and his minutes are up nine a night. Jamal Cain's are up 10.
New York is rested and has its own start to fix.
The Knicks are also 0-2 under Mike Brown, with only Jose Alvarado on their injury list. Jalen Brunson averaged 26.0 points last season, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 11.9 rebounds. Both teams have one day of rest. Orlando then plays at Toronto on Oct. 28 and Oct. 30, with Boston and Washington at home after that.
The standings are tight enough that two games matter.
Orlando is 11th, half a game behind 10th-place Chicago and 1.5 behind sixth-place Washington. The question is who creates shots without Banchero. Orlando Magic Daily wrote that the Magic must get back to basics, and the early evidence says that starts with shot selection and ball movement around Wagner and Bane.
How long will Paolo Banchero be out?
He is listed out with an estimated return of Nov. 22. ESPN reported multiple weeks, and RealGM said 4-6 weeks.
When do the Magic play next after the Knicks?
They play at Toronto on Oct. 28 and Oct. 30, then host Boston on Nov. 1.
