Magic’s Paolo Banchero to miss second straight game due to illness

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) pushes past Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith, left, as he drives to the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (John Raoux, Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero will miss Tuesday night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley disclosed Tuesday that the team's 6-foot-10 All-Star will miss a second straight game due to illness.

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Banchero, the NBA Rookie of the Year last season, played 29 minutes on Saturday night in the Magic's 112-109 win at Detroit, recording 15 points and five rebounds. He had a game-winning three-point play.

He missed Sunday's 109-92 loss at Atlanta after playing in Orlando's first 57 games of the season.

Banchero averages a team-leading 22.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Banchero had attended Tuesday morning's shootaround with the hopes of playing against the Nets, who have defeated the Magic twice this season.

Attempting to qualify for the playoffs for only the third time in 12 years, the Magic are 32-26, standing eighth in the Eastern Conference.

The game Tuesday marks the start of a 17-game stretch in which Orlando plays 13 at home, including two against Brooklyn.

Cam Thomas (right ankle sprain) and Ben Simmons (lower back) will not play for the Nets, who won 111-86 at Memphis on Monday night.

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