Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero made his return from a 34-game absence lived up to the billing, but the Magic fell in a thriller 109-106.

Magic All-Star Paolo Banchero hinted at his return on social media ahead of Friday’s game vs. Bucks at Kia Center. “To stay where they are, given what they’ve had to endure, is

The Magic — who have been dealing with a slew of other injuries, Franz Wagner's torn oblique and Moritz Wagner's season-ending torn ACL among them — entered Friday in the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference. They lost their first four without Banchero, then went 19-11 since.