Orlando's Paolo Banchero won't play for a few weeks. The Magic see it as an opportunity for everyone

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 oblique, an injury that happened in his team’s loss to Chicago on Wednesday night. The abdominal muscle injury was diagnosed Thursday, causing Banchero to miss the game Friday in Cleveland. The Magic take on the Cavaliers in a rematch of an Eastern Conference first-round series from last season.

“I felt it when it happened,” Banchero said Friday, speaking with reporters in Cleveland after Orlando’s shootaround. “Didn’t know what it was but knew it didn’t feel good. Just tried to play through it, wanted to get it looked at after the game, was hoping it wasn’t too bad but obviously it was a little worse than I thought.”

Banchero was off to a monster start — his 29 points per game ranked seventh in the league entering Friday. He’s one of only three players who started the day averaging that many points along with 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. The others: Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“It sucks. There’s no other way to put it,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “It sucks for him, the way in which he started this year, the way in which he was playing, the way he’s carrying us in so many ways. And in the same breath, you have to say it’s an opportunity — it’s an opportunity for guys to step up, step into their role, opportunity for guys to continue to play to our standard of basketball.”

The Magic said Banchero will be evaluated in four to six weeks. He referenced the six-week timeline. If he misses six weeks, that means he’ll be sidelined for at least 21 games. It would also mean he’ll almost certainly be ineligible for most end-of-season NBA awards voting under the new policies that went into effect last season.

“Hopefully, it’s not a multi, three-, four-month injury,” Banchero said. “Hopefully, it’s just six, something weeks. Just trying to stay engaged as much as I can and stay positive, take it one day at a time and be ready to come back.”

Banchero had a career-high 50 points on Monday against Indiana, the first — and entering Friday, still only — 50-point game in the NBA this season. The Magic said he was hurt in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game in Chicago. Banchero, who finished that night with 31 points, was still on the floor at the end of that contest.

He intends to travel with the team while sidelined, Mosley said. Banchero will be involved in some coaches’ meetings, giving the 2022-23 rookie of the year, No. 1 overall draft pick and first-time All-Star last season a chance to see the game a different way.

“It’s another opportunity for his growth,” Mosley said. “There won’t be as much physical activity going on, but it’ll be a mental version of it. His ability to be in some the coaches’ meetings, to see the game differently from that side of the floor, it’s an opportunity for his growth in that realm.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero reacts to sinking a 3-point shot before it was called no good during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, left, and guard Cole Anthony, right, celebrate after their win over the Indiana Pacers in an NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero shoots a free throw during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero reacts to his team falling behind the Chicago Bulls during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero shoots over Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their eighth World Series championship with a downtown parade and a stadium gathering featuring Shohei Ohtani and other star players on Friday.

Seven double-decker buses filled with players, their families and the coaching staff rolled to the start in front of City Hall. Manager Dave Roberts hoisted the Commissioner's Trophy.

Several players smoked cigars and drank beer on the sun-splashed day. Ohtani held his dog, Decoy. Walker Buehler, who pitched the ninth inning in the Series finale, did a beer bong while wearing Orel Hershiser's jersey from the team's 1988 World Series championship.

“This is crazy, man. I love this,” outfielder Teoscar Hernández said.

Blue-clad fans packed both sides of the street, cheering and waving at their heroes. The parade occurred on what would have been the 64th birthday of Fernando Valenzuela, the 1981 NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year winner who died days before the World Series began.

The Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in five games, clinching the title with a 7-6 victory in the Bronx on Wednesday.

The team said that because of logistics, traffic and timing, fans won’t be able to attend both events.

The parade began at Gloria Molina Grand Park as part of a 45-minute route that culminates at the intersection of 5th and Flower streets.

The celebration at Dodger Stadium will begin shortly after noon. The parade will be carried on the stadium’s videoboards ahead of the team’s arrival.

A portion of the proceeds from the ticketed stadium event will be donated to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.

There were more than a dozen arrests during informal celebrations after the team's comeback win to clinch the Series. Burglaries, vandalism and fires occurred in some parts of the city.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Fans cheer and hold signs before the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Los Angeles City Hall glows in Dodger Blue to celebrate the Dodgers' World Series Championship in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

The Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a team picture after their win against the New York Yankees in Game 5 to win the baseball World Series, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

A fan holds a replica trophy during the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Fans crowd the sidewalk as they wait for the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Fans crowd behind barricades waiting for the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)