Orlando has found new hope after a difficult start to life without Banchero. The Magic won their fourth straight game Wednesday night, stifling the Indiana Pacers 94-90 on the strength of one of their most dominant fourth-quarter defensive performances since Dwight Howard’s heyday.

Paolo Banchero knew something was wrong. He was surprised to learn the extent. The Orlando Magic All-Star will miss the next several weeks with a torn right abdominal muscle, an injury that happened in his team’s loss to Chicago on Wednesday night.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley discusses Paolo Banchero’s impact from the sidelines during his injury absence.

CLEVELAND – Orlando Magic third-year All-Star forward Paolo Banchero is out indefinitely with a torn right oblique, the team announced on Thursday evening.

The Orlando Magic were coming off a 22-60 record when they won the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery. With Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vučević traded away the season prior, the Magic began a new era. Winning the No. 1 pick in the draft presented the perfect opportunity to select a new face to propel their future forward.

The Orlando Magic will be without forward Paolo Banchero for at least a month due to a torn oblique muscle in his right side, the team announced.

Franz Wagner had 23 points and seven assists, Goga Bitadze added 10 points and 12 rebounds and the Orlando Magic pulled away in the second half to a 121-94 win over the Washington Wizards.

Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero has a torn right oblique, the team said Thursday night after he had further testing in Cleveland. President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman said Banchero will be out indefinitely and be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks. Paolo Banchero has been diagnosed with a torn right oblique.