Paolo Banchero Sidelined Again with Groin Injury; Timetable Murky for Magic Forward

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero will miss his second consecutive game Sunday against the Rockets due to a groin injury, with his return timetable currently murky and subject to daily evaluation. This absence is expected to increase the value of teammate Tristan da Silva. The 23-year-old, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has posted 2025 season stats of 21.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks. Contractually, Banchero signed a two-year, $22.66 million deal in July 2022, had team options exercised for 2024-25 and 2025-26, and secured a five-year maximum rookie extension in July 2025. His background includes a decorated high school and college career at Duke, where he was ACC Freshman of the Year.