NBA news: Magic’s Paolo Banchero reportedly set to return from injury this week | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Despite being out for more than two months, Paolo Banchero has held on to the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and is now ready to return to action this week.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Banchero is expected to be upgraded to questionable on the injury report, with his return likely coming Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Banchero hasn’t played in a game since Oct. 30, when he tore an oblique muscle.

The injury derailed an incredible start to the season for Banchero. He scored 31 points on 12 of 22 shooting in a 102-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls in the game in which he was injured.

Through the first five games of the season, Banchero averaged 29.0 points on 49.5 percent shooting, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per start. He scored a career-high 50 points in a win over the Indiana Pacers on October 28.

Banchero became the first Magic player since Tracy McGrady in 2004 to score at least 50 points in a game.

When Banchero went down, there was a lot of concern about how the Magic would score enough points to stay afloat until his return.

Franz Wagner improved enormously and filled the gap with the best performance of his career immediately after Banchero’s demise. He averaged 26.1 points, 6.3 assists and 6.0 rebounds in 20 games before suffering a torn hamstring on December 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Magic have posted a respectable 6-7 record in 13 games without Banchero and Wagner, including wins over the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Their overall record of 22-16 is fourth in the East, 2.5 games behind the No. 3 seed Knicks.

Banchero’s return will significantly help an Orlando offense that ranks 26th in scoring and 30th in points per game.

Orlando begins Thursday with a three-game homestand against the Minnesota Timberwolves, followed by a Bucks game on Friday and a Sixers game on Sunday.