Orlando Magic Star Avoids Injury Report vs. Pistons

A little over one week since their latest meeting, the Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic are set to have a rematch on Sunday night down in Florida.

For the home team, they looked forward to entering the matchup without worrying about the status of their All-Star forward, Paolo Banchero.

That couldn’t be said on Thursday when the Magic last played. Going into their home matchup against the Utah Jazz, Banchero was on the injury report, with his playing status in question for the night. Had he failed to get clearance to play, Banchero would’ve missed his third-straight matchup for Orlando.

Prior to Thursday’s outing against the Jazz, the Magic rolled without Bachero in their games against the Atlanta Hawks and the Brooklyn Nets. When they paid a visit to the Hawks on February 25, Orlando couldn’t overcome the absence of their star, as they suffered a 17-point loss.

Two days later, they bounced back. Despite missing the former No. 1 overall pick, the Pistons managed to take care of business against the Brooklyn Nets, collecting a near-30-point victory. Then, against the Jazz, Banchero’s contributions helped them make it two in a row.

Checking in for 35 minutes on Thursday, Banchero had an efficient shooting night, knocking down 63 percent of his attempts. By adding another eight points from the charity stripe, the Magic forward produced 29 points in the Magic’s eight-point win over Utah. Banchero also dished out six assists and came down with nine rebounds in the outing.

For the first time in a few games, the Magic do not have Banchero listed on the injury report. Barring any unexpected setbacks, the young star is expected to play against Detroit on Sunday.

When the Magic and the Pistons went toe-to-toe last weekend in Detroit, Banchero checked in for nearly 30 minutes. He struggled from the field, shooting just 29 percent, scoring 15 points. However, his final make in the final seconds of the matchup helped the Magic secure a tight victory.

The Pistons and the Magic are set to tip off at 6 PM ET.