Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero suffered a low-grade right high ankle sprain in Friday's 115-93 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team announced.
The team said Banchero will undergo further testing and evaluation. Players usually miss four-to-six weeks with the same injury, notes Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.
Banchero initially hurt his ankle Friday in an awkward first-quarter collision with teammate Desmond Bane, he told Beede. He remained in the game but re-aggravated it in the third before sitting out for the final frame.
Injuries have plagued the former first overall pick in each of the last three seasons. He played 46 games in 2024-25 after a torn oblique muscle in late October sidelined him for over two months. Last season, the one-time All-Star made 72 starts but still missed three weeks early in the year with a groin strain.
Banchero finished three rebounds shy of a 35-point triple-double in Orlando's season-opening loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. He averaged 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists for the Magic last season.
