Why is Paolo Banchero not playing tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks? Latest on Magic star's status for Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinal (Dec. 10)

2022 No. 1 draft pick Paolo Banchero has stood out for the Orlando Magic this season, but the team will go into its Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Milwaukee Bucks without him. The third-year forward is sidelined with a torn right oblique and will miss Tuesday's critical knockout round showdown.

Banchero has not featured in the Magic lineup since the game against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 31, the team's fifth matchup of the season. Following the contest, he underwent additional tests that showed the severity of the injury, and the organization learned it would be without its star forward for an extended portion of the season.

On Nov. 1, NBA insider Shams Charania posted an update on his X account reporting that Banchero would be out "indefinitely" and that the player's health would be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.

Over the 2024-25 season, Paolo Banchero has played in just five games and missed 21. Despite being without their All-Star forward, the Magic's defense has carried them to a 14-7 record since his injury.

When healthy, Paolo Banchero has proven he is one of the most dangerous young players in the league. The 22-year-old was named the Rookie of the Year after a strong 2022-23 season where he averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

Last season, the 6-foot-10 forward took it up a notch. Over 80 games, he finished with 22.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg and 5.4 apg and was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career. Before his injury, Banchero was off to a flying start this season. He averaged 29.0 ppg and 8.8 rpg over five starts.

The loss of Banchero was a major blow to the organization, and an injury to Franz Wagner last week will only add to coach Jamahl Mosley's problems. The German forward suffered the same injury as Banchero against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday and will also be out for at least a month.

Without two star players, the Magic will have their hands full against a Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Bucks roster. Orlando boasts one of the best defenses in the NBA this year, allowing just 103.3 ppg. They will need to be at their best defensively on Tuesday if they hope to have any chance of upsetting a red-hot Bucks team.

Orland Magic coach Jamahl Mosley provides injury update on Paolo Banchero

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley talks with Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero at United Center. Photo Credit: Imagn

On Sunday, Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley provided an update on Paolo Banchero's status. Per Sports Illustrated, Mosley confirmed that the forward was working his way back to being healthy but could not provide a definitive return date.

"I think that's again why we don't put timelines on it, because each guy is unique, and each guy is different in the way in which they recover," Mosley said. "He's responding to the things that we're having him do, which is some ball-handling, some light movement on the court – he's responding to that well.

"But again, that's why we'll just take it one day at a time and see how he responds each day."

The Magic face the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday before returning home to take on the OKC Thunder and Miami Heat.