Magic-Timberwolves Injury Report: Who's In, Who's Out for Thursday Night? Banchero Questionable

The latest on player health and status regarding Thursday night's matchup between the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) goes to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center. / Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in the first game of a home back-to-back. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET from the Kia Center.

Orlando is 22-16 this season and sits fourth in the Eastern Conference. Last time out, they defeated the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden Monday night.

Minnesota is 19-17, and is currently 8th in the West. They defeated the New Orleans Pelicans Tuesday night in their last outing.

Here's the latest on player health and status ahead of the first meeting between the two teams this season.

Orlando Magic Injury Report

• Paolo Banchero: OUT (return to competition reconditioning)
• Franz Wagner: OUT (torn right oblique)
• Moe Wagner: OUT (torn left ACL)
• Jalen Suggs: OUT (low back strain)
• Gary Harris: OUT (left hamstring strain)
• Mac McClung: OUT (G League)

Banchero is listed as questionable for the first time since tearing his right oblique on Oct. 30 at Chicago. Since then, he's missed 33 consecutive games. This is the seventh game for him being listed under the designation "return to competition reconditioning." A league source told Magic on SI that the Magic will factor in the team's back-to-back in determining his availability for Thursday's game vs. Minnesota.

UPDATE: As of 6:30 p.m., Banchero has been downgraded to OUT. He'll miss his 34th straight game.

Franz Wagner will miss his 14th consecutive game with his own torn right oblique. Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Wednesday that the fourth-year forward has begun doing some light form shooting, but that's about it. He suffered his injury Dec. 6 at Philadelphia.

Moe Wagner tore his left ACL on Dec. 21, ending his season.

Suggs is out for the second straight game with a low back strain he suffered Jan. 3 at Toronto. Mosley said Suggs was "doing okay" Wednesday, and that he'd be continually evaluated to see how he responds to treatments.

Harris is out for the third straight game after re-aggravating a left hamstring strain Jan. 1 at Detroit that caused him to miss 13 games earlier this season. He did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Mosley said.

Minnesota Timberwolves Injury Report

• Rob Dillingham: OUT (right ankle sprain)
• Jesse Edwards: OUT (G League)
• Tristen Newton: OUT (G League)
• Terrence Shannon Jr.: OUT (G League)

Dillingham, the Timberwolves No. 8 pick from this summer's NBA draft, has been inactive for the last six games.

Related Stories on the Orlando Magic

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• PAOLO HINTS AT RETURN ON IG: The third-year pro suggested his 33-game injury absence could soon be coming to a close on social media Tuesday night. CLICK HERE
• WCJ 'GETTING [HIS] SWAG BACK': Wendell Carter Jr.'s role has fluctuated so far in his seventh NBA season, but he's "starting to get [his] swag back." CLICK HERE
• MAGIC-KNICKS RECAP: The injury-riddled Orlando Magic pulled off an upset victory in Madison Square Garden on Monday night. CLICK HERE
• FRANZ'S PATIENCE PIVOTAL AS HE PROVIDES INJURY UPDATE: A little over four weeks after Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner tore his right oblique, he told locker room reporters that his status is "a weird spot" to be in: feeling better but knowing he must be patient in his recovery process. CLICK HERE
• PAOLO, NOW 'HEALED,' GETTING CLOSER TO RETURN: After his torn right oblique has now fully healed, the Magic star is hoping to return back to the court with Orlando soon. CLICK HERE
• RESILIENT MAGIC SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE STARTS: The Orlando Magic acknowledge that their slow starts are digging holes that even spirited comebacks can't always overcome. Bucking that trend — a challenge, given their injury shortages — is the Magic's next step. CLICK HERE
• BANCHERO, FRANZ CRACK TOP 10 IN ALL-STAR VOTE RETURNS: The Orlando Magic's star frontcourt duo appeared in the top 10 of the first returns for NBA All-Star fan voting Thursday. CLICK HERE
• MAGIC'S 2024-25 SCHEDULE: See the complete slate for the Orlando Magic in 2024-25 and all the details – dates, locations, TV, tip times, and more – that you need to know. CLICK HERE

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